









i 

CjQEmGIIT DEPOSm 


I 




\V 



.A®'}, 

•'V' ^.'r-* ', • 

o’ 'A&r; •> 

' A Off . 1 



\ 







Billy Burns of Troop 5 



t 


t 


4 



* 







y) 


IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THEM AND NOT TRY TO HELP 

(p. 140) 



Billy Burns of 
Troop S 


iat/thurston 

u 

Author of “ The Bishop’s Shadow,” 
** The Big Brother of Sabin Street,” 
Etc., Etc. 


ILLUSTRATED 



New York Chicago Toronto 

Fleming H. Revell Company 

London and Edinburgh 


Copyright, 1916, by 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY 


New York: 158 Fifth Avenue 
Chicago : 17 N. Wabash Ave. 
Toronto: 25 Richmond St., W. 
London: 21 Paternoster Square 
Edinburgh: 100 'Princes Street 

OCT 16 1916 


©CI.A445172 


DEDICATED TO 


REV. CHARLES WOOD, D.D. 

PASTOR, FRIEND 
AND MOST KINDLY CRITIC 


% 


• • 


\ 


s 


t 



I 


, / 




% 


s 




V 




/• 


I 



\ 



t 



4 


« 


( 


^ « 




I 


K 


I 

« 





, » 


A 


4 






( 


I 



1 


« 

/ 

t 


% 


# 

/ 



V 


V 


', 9 




A y 


.' ■' ..■ vV?-'' 


CONTENTS 


I. Trouble for Billy . . . 9 

11. The Gathering at Barney's . 22 

III. Under the Stars .... 30 

IV. A Good Beginning ... 41 

V. Night Adventures ... 52 

VI. Treasure Trove .... 70 

VIL Two “Good Turns" . . . ' 83 

VIII. March Third in Washington . 104 

IX. Inauguration Day . . . 127 

X. Gettysburg — 1913 . . . 134 

XI. Scouts at Gettysburg . . .153 

XII. Old Acquaintances . . . 162 

XIII. Winter Doings in New England 176 

XIV. A New England Christmas . 185 

XV. On the Mountain . . . 200 

XVI. An Ordeal for Jack . .. . 212 



I 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 

B illy burns balanced the bookshelf on 
his shoulder as he went down the street. 
The bookshelf was of oak and heavy, but 
Billy was a sturdy boy, and he carried it lightly. 
When he reached the house where Barney Doyle 
lived, he climbed the stairs slowly, for it was 
quite dark in the narrow hall — climbed a sec- 
ond flight, and stopped before a door under which 
shone a line of light. The corner of the shelf 
bumped against the door as Billy fumbled for the 
knob, and a voice from within sung out sharply : 
Who’s that?” 

‘"Just me — Billy.” Billy pushed open the 
door and, with a little breath of relief, deposited 
his burden carefully on the table. 

Barney stared at it. What you luggin’ that 
thing ’round for ? ” he demanded. 

** It’s for you — I made it,” Billy answered. 

“ For — me! ” 

Barney stood up, the better to view the shelf. 
He ran his hand slowly over the smooth surface, 
examined the work with growing admiration, 
finally exclaimed : 

'' Billy, it’s great — that is. It’s just dandy! ” 
Billy’s plain face brightened, but he said noth- 
9 


10 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


ing— only gave the other boy a glance full of 
warm friendliness. 

After a moment’s silence, Barney spoke again, 
slowly. D’ye know, Billy, that’s the first thing 
I ever had gave to me — really gave, ye know. I 
ain’t countin’ drinks an’ smokes, an’ that kind o' 
stuff, but a — a present. That’s what this is — a 
present. I reckon you don’t know what a lot it 

means to me — that ” 

Not sure what it was meant for, he could not 
name it, and left his sentence unfinished. Billy’s 
face was fairly shining now. Barney was pleased. 

“ I made it for ye myself in the manual-train- 
ing class,” he explained. An’ I’ve brought the 
hooks an’ screws to hang it with. Now where’ll 
you have it, Barney ” — his glance swept the bare 
walls — '' on this side or that ? ” 

They decided on the best place, and Billy, 
mounted on a chair, pulled a screwdriver out 
of his pocket, screwed the hooks into the wall, 
and hung the shelf from them. 

‘‘ There,” he said in a tone of satisfaction, as 
he stepped down and backed off, the better to see 

the effect, that’ll hold all your ” Then 

suddenly his face changed, and he cried out, 
“ Well, of all the boneheads ! To make you a 
^^aa^shelf when you’ve not got a book to put on 
it ! An’ I never thought of that till this minute.” 

But I ought to have some books an’ I’m 
a-goin’ to, Billy. I’m goin’ to get some right 
away,” Barney exclaimed hastily. ''A — a fel- 
low ought to have books.” 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 


11 


But Billy’s joy in his gift was gone. “ Me to 
be such a fool ! ” he muttered, and would not 
look again at the shelf, nor speak of it. Turning 
his back on it, he sat down and began to speak 
of something else. 

“ Jim Slater and Tom Jones are out again. 
You seen ’em?” he asked. 

Barney nodded. Once — but they’d nothin’ to 

say to me.” 

“ No, they knew you’d no use for ’em. But — ” 
there was anxiety now in Billy’s eyes, they’re 
up to something, Barney. They’ll make trouble 
if they can.” 

An’ that’s no lie — they’re always makin’ 
trouble — them two,” Barney agreed. 

“ I’ve seen Charlie Duff ’round with ’em two 
or three times, evenings,” Billy went on, “ and 
once I saw ’em with some of the other Scouts — 
Finnegan an’ them that were in the old alley 
gang. I’m thinkin’ they’re try in’ to fix up a new 
gang, Barney.” 

“ H’m ! Shouldn’t wonder,” and now Barney 
too looked disturbed. He was silent a moment, 
running over in his mind the names of the boys 
. — now Scouts in good standing — who had once 
belonged to the “ gang ” of which he himself 
had been the leader. I don’t think they’ll 
get hold of any of our troop now, unless mebbe 
Charlie Duff,” he said at last. 

Billy nodded. “ It’s him I’m afraid for. 
Charlie’s too easy — he’s got no backbone.” 

'' He’s soft as putty,” Barney agreed scorn- 


12 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


fully. ‘‘ Anybody can lead him 'round by the 
nose. He’ll not be much loss if they do get 
him.” 

Oh, but, Barney, he’s a brother — a Scout- 
brother ! We can’t let him drop out — we can’t ! " 
Billy cried out hastily. 

We can’t keep him from doin’ it, I 
reckon, if them two are after him,” Barney 
retorted. 

Billy’s steady blue eyes brightened, and his 
square chin was lifted a trifle, while into his 
voice crept a new note, as he said, “ If Charlie’s 
like you say — an’ I’m thinkin’ he is — it’s up to us 
to help him all the more, just ’cause he can’t 
hold himself straight — ain’t it? It’s — it’s a big 
‘ kindness,’ ’stead of a little one, we got to do, 
that’s all.” Billy spoke slowly, as if he were 
thinking aloud. 

But Barney’s mouth set stubbornly. “ He ain’t 
worth it — a feller with no more backbone than 
Charlie Duff. Might’s well let him drop out 
first as last,” he declared. 

Billy shook his head, but he did not argue the 
point. He knew better than to argue with Bar- 
ney, and Barney knew that the other’s silence 
did not mean yielding. After a little, Billy went 
on earnestly : 

“ Say, Barney, why don’t you ask some of the 
troop — all the old gang — to come here, an’ you 
talk to ’em about Tom an’ Jim, you know, an’ 
others like them? You can talk ’em into any- 
thing — ^you always could.” 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 


13 


Barney’s frown lightened a trifle. He knew 
that Billy was right. There was Irish magic in 
his tongue, and he could sway the boys at his 
will ; and he knew Tom and Jim — knew that they 
were bad enough before they were sent to the 
Reform School, and there was small likelihood 
that they had gotten any good from their stay 
in that place. They would spare no effort to 
form a gang, and especially to get back into it 
the boys who, like Barney himself, had climbed 
to a higher place in the community since they 
had joined the Boy Scouts. 

“ They like to come here — all the fellers do,” 
Billy went on. “ You could have something to 
eat, like Mr. Marshall does — peanuts an’ lemon- 
ade, mebbe — an’ give ’em a right good time, an’ 
then just a little talk, but a hot one, before they 
go. Ain’t nobody but you can do it, Barney. 
’Cause you used to be boss of the gang you’ve 
got more ‘ pull ’ with the fellers than anybody 
else. They know that you know jest what you’re 
talkin’ about, an’ they’ll listen to you.” 

'' I ain’t ever done that,” Barney said slowly, 
“ asked ’em here so, I mean, an’ give ’em a feed, 
an’ a talk.” 

“ That’s no reason you shouldn’t. An’ I’ll pay 
for the feed, Barney. I got more money to spare 
than you have. I can’t talk like you can — they 
wouldn’t listen to me — but the payin’ will be my 
part. Do it, Barney. I saw Charlie Duff with 
Tom an’ Jim only last night, an’ Fm afraid he’d 
been in Owen’s saloon with ’em. They’d like to 


14 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


pull down one of our troop just to spite you, Bar- 
ney.” 

Barney’s eyes kindled, and unconsciously he 
struck the table with his clenched fist. I’ll do 
it ! ” he declared between set teeth. They 
sha’n’t get Charlie nor any other Scout.” 

'' Bully ! ” shouted Billy. ‘‘ I’ll get word to the 
boys for you. When’ll you have ’em — Saturday 
night ? ” 

Barney considered a moment, then nodded, 
and Billy rose. 

“ All right. You’ll hold ’em, Barney, an’ Mr. 
Marshall will be mighty glad when he knows,” 
and, perhaps a little fearful that Barney might 
reconsider, Billy abruptly departed. 

Twenty minutes later he knocked at the door 
of the Scout Master, who gave him a cordial 
welcome, and waited for him to tell his errand. 
All the boys of Troop 5 were at home in the 
Master’s rooms, but Billy, although he did not 
suspect it, was perhaps the most welcome of 
them all. 

Billy went straight to the point. Mr. Mar- 
shall, I want to buy a book for a fellow that ain’t 
got any, an’ I thought you’d know what one I’d 
better get.” 

How old a boy?” 

“ ’Bout eighteen.” 

Barney,” said the Scout Master to himself — 
and aloud, “ Does he like to read ? ” 

Billy wriggled in his chair with an embar- 
rassed grin. “ I reckon, not much,” he said. 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 


15 


But he — he’s had a bookshelf gave to him, an’ 
he says he’s goin’ to get some books to put on 
it. An’ I want to give him one — or two.” 

Mr. Marshall went across to the shelves 
which lined two sides of the room, selected a 
volume, and put it into Billy’s hands. 

'' That is a life of Abraham Lincoln,” he said. 

It is a very fine one, and I think most boys of 
eighteen would find it interesting. If your friend 
has no books, he probably is not much of a 
reader, and may find it a little difficult at first, 
to get interested in a book like this, but if he 
will read it through — even if he is a long time 
about it — I’m sure he will like it, and be willing 
to take up another of the same sort. That is 
an extra copy — I mean I have two — and I’ll be 
glad to give you this one and you can keep it or 
give it to your friend, as you please.” 

“ Thank you, sir,” said Billy, turning the pages 
and reading a sentence here and there. I 
guess he’ll like this.” He rose to go — rwas 
tempted to stay and tell the Scout Master his 
fears in regard to Charlie Duff and the two boys 
who were after him — but concluded to wait a 
little. So he said good-night and went away. 

He had something on his mind. I wish he 
had told me about it,” Alan Marshall said to him- 
self, listening to Billy’s footsteps on the stairs. 

Billy went to the public school ; but from three- 
thirty to six-thirty he was employed by one of 
the large department stores, as a special de- 
livery messenger. He lived at the Selden Home, 


16 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


a comfortable place, in charge of a good, kindly 
couple with whom he was a great favourite. 

The next evening, Billy, on his wheel, deliv- 
ered Barney's invitation to the boys. Not all the 
troop was invited — many of them were boys 
whom Tom and Jim would never think of ap- 
proaching; but those to whom Billy went, all 
promised to be on hand on Saturday evening — 
this was Friday — and Billy turned homeward, 
feeling that he had done all that he could for 
his Scout “ brothers." But as he went, he was 
thinking of Jim and Tom. They were not Scouts, 
but after all weren't they “ brothers " just the 
same? And wasn't it possible that they too 
might be helped up, as he and Barney and the 
other South End boys had been? Billy was 
wishing that he had talked with the Scout Master 
about those two, last night. Maybe he would 
have thought of some way to get hold of them, 
to save them from spoiling their own lives and 
the lives of others. 

Half unconsciously, he turned into the street 
where he had several times seen Charlie Duff 
with Jim and Tom. Yes, he was standing on 
the corner now, in front of Owen's saloon, but 
this time he was alone. Billy sprang off his 
wheel and joined him. 

“ Say, Charlie, come on up to the Avenue," 
he said. “ There's some good films on at Poll's 
this week. My treat." 

“Aw — no — don't believe I will," Charlie an- 
swered, with a swift backward glance. 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 


17 


At the same moment a man who was standing 
in the doorway of the saloon came quickly across 
to the two boys, and laid a hand on Billy’s 
shoulder. 

“Billy Burns!” he exclaimed. “Ain’t seen 
you in a month of Sundays. Seems like you’ve 
gone back on your old friends, Billy.” The 
kindly reproach in his tone brought the colour 
into the boy’s face, and he answered quickly: 

“ ’Deed I don’t go back on my friends. Jack. 
I’ll never go back on you or forget you.” 

“ Then why don’t you ever stop in to see 
me? ” 

“ I — I can’t. Jack,” Billy stammered. “ Scouts 
can’t go in — in saloons, you know. But I never 
forget how good you was to me when I was a 
little kid with no home but the streets. Many’s 
the meal you gave me when I’d ’a’ gone hungry 
but for you. Think I could forget all that. 
Jack Owen ? ” 

The man’s face softened. “ I’m glad to hear 
you say that, Billy,” he answered. “ I’ve been 

hearing things about you But we’ll drop it. 

I see you’re the same old Billy. Come in now 
and have a glass of — of lemonade — in memory 
of old times. You can’t refuse that. I know it’s 
no use to offer ye anything stronger.” 

“ No,” Billy said, a troubled look in his eyes, 
“ an’ — an’. Jack — I can’t go in your place, even 
for lemonade. I told you why.” 

“ I’m not askin’ you to,” Owen retorted 
quickly, “not in the saloon. I’m askin’ you just 


18 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


to drop into the little back room — ^you remember 
the little back room? You’ve been in that many 
a time. You know I serve no drinks in there.” 

“ I — know,” Billy answered slowly. What 
should he do? He felt that he owed Owen a 
heavy debt of gratitude for his many kindnesses 
in the old days. It would hurt him sorely to 
refuse what he asked now. 

All right, Jack,” he agreed finally, I’ll 
come.” 

Right-0 ! Come on. Duff,” said Owen, and 
led the way to a side door, the boys following. 

It was a comfortable little room with a home- 
like atmosphere, into which he led them. A 
narrow hall separated it from the saloon, and 
Owen, drawing forward some chairs, told the 
boys to wait and he’d be back in two minutes. 
But five minutes and then five more passed while 
they waited, listening to the noisy clamour from 
the saloon. Billy was trying to make up his 
mind to go, when a big fellow came hurrying 
in with two glasses of lemonade on a tray. It 
was Jim Slater, and he looked at Billy with a 
grin that was both malicious and triumphant, as 
he handed him one of the glasses. 

Owen said to tell you he’s sorry, but he’s 
got some rough customers out there,” he nodded 
towards the saloon, an’ he can’t leave ’em. 
He fixed this fer ye, an’ he wants ye to come 
again.” 

He set the second glass before Duff, winked 
at him, and went out. 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 


19 


“ It sure is a noisy crowd out there,” Duff said. 
Then as he sucked the lemonade through a 
straw, he added, “ I say, Billy, this is good stuff, 
all right.” 

Billy tasted it — it was good, and icy cold. He 
was thirsty and he drank it all. Then setting his 
glass down he said uneasily, “ I don't think 
Owen's coming back, an' I can't wait. You tell 
him I had to get home, will you? It’s most ten.” 

Charlie nodded. 

Billy repeated slowly, “ I — must — go.” But he 
did not go. Instead, he settled slowly down in 
his chair, his eyes half closed, his head nodding 
sleepily, while Charlie stared at him curiously. 
Presently Billy's head fell against the chair- 
back, and he was asleep, breathing heavily; and 
then Jim Slater and Tom came hurrying in. 
They paid no attention to Duff. 

Quick ! We must get him out before Owen 
comes back,” Jim said in a whisper. 

“ What — what you goin' to do ? What's the 
matter with Billy ? ” Duff demanded anxiously. 

You hold yer tongue. What you don't know 
ye won't tell,” Jim answered roughly. 

They were carrying Billy out to the street. 
A little further along in a shadowed spot was 
a pushcart with an old rug in it. The boys 
dumped Billy, none too gently, into the cart, 
pulled the rug over him, and set off pushing the 
cart before them. Charlie followed, asking 
anxious questions. 

Say — you've just got to tell me what 


20 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


you’re going to do with him ! ” he cried out 
finally. 

What’s it to you — ’tisn’t your funeral,” Tom 
flung back at him. “ But if you must know we’re 
jest givin’ Mr. Burns a free ride — that’s all.” 

Charlie glanced back towards the saloon and, 
seeing Billy’s wheel where he had left it, ran 
back and mounted it. As he rejoined the others, 
he cried with a sudden flash of understanding — 
I believe you put dope in his lemonade. That’s 
what made him so sleepy.” 

The others laughed. '' Bright boy, Charlie,” 
Slater taunted him. “ Took you some time to 
find that out, didn’t it ? ” 

'' It’s a dirty trick you’ve played on him — the 
two of you,” Duff declared. “ You’d no business 
to do it.” 

“ You hush up ! ” Slater stepped close to him 
and spoke in a threatening tone. “ You can’t 
prove nothin’. If you accuse us we’ll swear we 
saw you put in the dope yourself. We both saw 
him do it, didn’t we, Tom?” 

Sure we did,” Jones lied promptly. 

“ Billy won’t believe I did it.” Duff was al- 
most crying now. 

'‘Huh! Billy! We’ll learn Billy a lesson — 
one he won’t fergit,” growled Slater. 

" You takin’ him home ? ” Duff questioned 
anxiously. 

" Sure we be. We’ll dump him on the piazzy. 
He’ll be nice an’ cool there till mornin’,” said 
Jim. 


TROUBLE FOR BILLY 


21 


Tom stopped short. IVe got a better one 
than that,” he chuckled. “ What d'ye say to 
dumpin’ him on the piazzy of the house where 
that swell kid lives — the one Duff says Billy 
swears by — Jack Harding? How's that, eh?” 

Jim slapped his knee and crowed delightedly. 

That's a bully idea. You’ve got a head on you, 
Tom Jones. It’s a long push up there, though.” 

“ Who cares if 'tis ? I guess the Harding kid 
won’t be so thick with Billy Burns after he sees 
him to-morrow mornin'. Come on — ^help me 
push.” 

“ Oh, say — that’s too mean ! Don't take him 
up to Harding’s. Leave him at the Home,” 
Charlie pleaded, fairly blubbering now. 

But the two only jeered at him, and at last he 
left them and went home, full of anxious fore- 
bodings. 

It was nearly eleven o’clock when the other 
two came to the Harding house, and the win- 
dows were all dark. Taking care to make no 
noise, they carried Billy up the steps, laid him 
in the darkest corner of the side piazza, and 
hurried off, chuckling over the success of their 
scheme. They had not only punished Burns for 
trying to keep Charlie Duff away from them, but 
they had struck a heavy blow at Barney Doyle 
at the same time, for it was an open secret that 
Barney and Billy were firm friends. 


II 


THE GATHERING AT BARNEY’S 

J IM had given Billy a heavier dose than he 
realised, and the boy lay unconscious and 
motionless all through the night. A maid 
coming out to sweep the piazza early in the 
morning, found him there, and ran to tell Mr. 
Harding. 

It — it looks like that Billy Master Jack thinks 
so much of, but I guess it ain’t him,” she ended. 

“ Oh, no, it can’t be Billy!'' Mr. Harding ex- 
claimed, as he hurried out to see. 

But it was Billy, and Wilson, who had fol- 
lowed his father, cried out in disgust as he 
looked down at the huddled figure in the stained 
and dirty uniform, half covered with a yet dirtier 
rug. 

‘^Why, he’s— he’s drunk, father!” Wilson 
cried, bending over him; and added hastily to 
the maid, “ Don’t let Jack out here.” 

But Jack was already in the doorway, demand- 
ing to know what had happened. His face 
whitened as he looked down at his friend. 

Oh, what — what is it? ” he whispered. “ Is 
Billy dead?" 

“ No, he isn’t dead,” retorted Wilson. “ You< 
go on in, Jack. This is no place for you.” 

22 


THE GATHERING AT BARNEY’S 23 

But Jack was kneeling beside Billy, brushing 
back his hair, and looking into his soiled face 
with infinite compassion. 

“ Oh, poor Billy ! ’’ he cried, his voice choked 
with sorrow. “ Father, you aren’t going to 
let him lie here? Why don’t you take him 
in and get the doctor? He’s sick — dear old 
Billy!” 

At sight of the anguish and compassion in his 
young brother’s face, Wilson turned quickly 
away. “To think that Jack should care so much 
for a beast like that 1 ” he muttered. 

But Mr. Harding spoke quietly. “Jack, run 
and ask your mother to come here.” 

Jack obeyed instantly. “ Father,” Wilson pro- 
tested, as the boy disappeared, “ you aren’t going 
to take him into the house — with Jack?” 

“ Yes, Wilson, I am. There may be something 
in this we do not understand, and anyhow, Billy 
is Jack’s friend, and because of that we must 
make no mistake in this matter. If Billy is to 
blame — we can keep Jack away from him here- 
after, but meantime the boy is evidently sick, and 
we must do what is right by him.” 

”Sick!” muttered Wilson; but his mother 
came just then, and he turned away in silence. 
Evidently Jack had been pleading for his friend, 
for, after one quick glance at Billy, Mrs. Hard- 
ing said to her husband : 

“ I will get the hall bedroom ready for him, 
and you’d better telephone for the doctor.” 

“ You understand ” Mr. Harding began. 


24. BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 

but his wife, with a quick glance at Jack’s 
anxious face interrupted gently: 

“ I understand. We’ll have the room ready in 
ten minutes.” 

So presently, for the first time in his hard life, 
Billy was undressed by tender motherly hands, 
his white face bathed; and then, lying on the 
fresh, fragrant linen in the room that had been 
prepared for him, he no longer looked repulsive, 
but — Mrs. Harding thought — infinitely pathetic, 
in his helplessness. 

They telephoned the Scout Master, and he came 
just before the doctor. Jack flew to meet him. 
His face was almost as white as Billy’s, and his 
blue eyes were full of tears as he caught Alan 
Marshall’s hand. 

Oh, Mr. Marshall,” he cried, you don’t be- 
live that Billy got drunk, do you? Oh, say you 
don’t! Say you don't!’' 

'' Of course I don’t. Jack,” Alan Marshall re- 
turned hastily. We know Billy better than 
that. Now stop worrying or we shall have you 
sick, and think how Billy would feel then ! He’s 
going to feel badly enough about this anyhow. 
You and I must be ready to help him through 
it.” 

Jack drew himself up and tried to smile, but 
his fingers clung nervously to the Scout Master’s. 

Yes,” he said, ‘‘ I’ll— I’ll help. I don’t mind— 
so much — now, ’cause you and mother and I all 
believe in Billy.” 

‘‘ Here’s the doctor,” Alan Marshall said. 


THE GATHERING AT BARNEY’S 25 


Now, Jack, you wait here, and I’ll come and 
tell you, presently, what he says.” 

Jack obeyed without a word. The doctor’s 
verdict was what Mr. Marshall had anticipated. 
The boy had been drugged — a heavy dose. It 
might be hours yet before he recovered con- 
sciousness. He suggested a hospital. 

But Mrs. Harding would not have Billy 
moved. “ Jack would grieve himself sick,” she 
said. Let the boy stay where he is.” 

It is better so,” the doctor agreed, knowing 
Jack and his delicate nervous temperament. 

The boy will probably be all right in a day or 
two — at least well enough to go home. He looks 
a sturdy lad.” 

” He is,” Mr. Marshall said, “ a good lad too, 
doctor, in spite of appearances.” Then he went 
to relieve Jack’s anxiety. 

It was on the evening of this day that the 
boys were to meet at Barney’s. Barney was a 
bit nervous about this meeting. Boys singly and 
in groups were often in his room, but never be- 
fore so many, by special invitation, as on this 
occasion. And where was Billy? He had sent 
peanuts, apples, lemons, and sugar, but he had 
promised to come early and help make the 
lemonade, and here it was eight o’clock, and he 
had not come. The others came, every one, even 
Charlie Duff. They came in a merry mood (all 
but Charlie) and for an hour they had a jolly 
time. Then, greatly wondering, and vaguely 
uneasy over Billy’s unaccountable absence, Bar- 


26 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


ney brought out his refreshments, and, when 
these had been disposed of, he began to talk in 
the old compelling fashion ; but now he talked of 
what splendid chances they had, to make the best 
of themselves. He spoke of the old days when 
the gang was their sole interest, and then he 
went on to speak of Tom and Jim, and the dif- 
ference between their lives and those of the 
Scouts. Billy had enthused him to some pur- 
pose. The words came hot from his heart and 
the boys were held by them. Only Charlie Duff 
(Barney recalled it afterwards) seemed restless 
and uninterested. He jumped almost out of his 
chair when there came a knock at the door. 

Barney sprang to open the door, and stared 
in surprise when he saw the Scout Master stand- 
ing there. The words seemed to say themselves 
as he looked into Alan Marshall’s eyes. 

Has anything happened to Billy ? ” 

The Scout Master nodded gravely as he 
stepped in, the boys all rising as he entered; 
and quite unconsciously he responded to their 
salute. Then he turned to answer Barney. 

“ Yes, Billy ” At that instant his glance 

fell on Charlie Duff, and he left the sentence 
unfinished. Charlie was cowering in his chair, 
his face chalk-white, his eyes full of fear and 
anxiety. The Scout Master took a step towards 
him. 

V ou know what happened to Billy ! ” he ex- 
claimed sternly. 

Instantly the boys crowded around with ques- 


THE GATHERING AT BARNEY’S 27 


tions and muttered threats. Charlie’s eyes swept 
the crowding faces, and cowering before the hot 
anger he saw in many of them, he put up his 
arm as if to ward off blows. 

“ I — I — didn’t do it. I — couldn’t help it,” he 
stammered, beads of perspiration starting out on 
his forehead. 

The Scout Master waved the boys back. ‘‘ Be 
quiet, all of you,” he commanded. Let Duff 
tell his story. He will tell the truth.” 

“ Oh, I will — honest, I will,” the boy whim- 
pered. I didn’t know they meant to dope Billy. 
I thought they just wanted to get him into the 
saloon — because he never would go, even a step 
inside the door, though Jack Owen was good to 
him when he was a kid — Billy said he was. 
And I didn’t know that Jim was going to put 
any stuff into the lemonade they gave him — 
there’s no harm in lemonade,” he hurried on, 
eager now to tell all, and see those threatening 
eyes soften. But they did not soften as the 
Scout Master, by a few keen questions, drew 
out the details of what had happened. When 
Charlie told where Billy had been left, Barney 
sprang at him with uplifted fist, his face flaming 
with anger. 

“ You — you ” he cried out, fairly choking 

with rage, and it would have gone badly for 
Charlie Duff if the Master had not stepped be- 
tween him and the other boy. 

Doyle,” Alan Marshall cried, “ you forget 
yourself ! I’ll attend to Duff.” 


28 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


‘‘ But — but '' Barney spluttered, too angry 

to speak clearly, it’s Billy they done that to, Mr. 
Marshall — Billy! Of all places in this town to 

take him there — ^where Jack ” Again he 

would have fallen upon the trembling figure in 
the chair, but for the strong hand of the 
Master, who whirled him aside as he said 
sternly : 

“If you cannot control yourself, Doyle, you 
must leave the room.” 

Barney caught his breath, and the look in his 
eyes reminded Alan Marshall of his first en- 
counter with the leader of the alley gang. For 
a breathless moment the eyes of the two met in a 
•clash of wills, then slowly Barney’s fell, and he 
turned sullenly away and was silent. 

“ Oh, Mr. Marshall, I’d never have helped 
'em do Billy like that if I’d known,” Charlie 
went on. “ I tried to make ’em take him home — 
to Selden’s — honest, I did. I like Billy. I 
wouldn’t do a thing to hurt him. You all know 
I like Billy ? ” He cast an appealing glance 
about the silent group, but found friendly sym- 
pathy in no eyes except the Master’s. He did 
find it there; and suddenly dropped his face on 
the back of his chair and began to sob. 

At that some of the boys grinned, and others 
turned away with scornful shrugs or sneers. 
“ Blubberin’ ! ” one muttered with a gesture of 
contempt. To boys like these, tears were evi- 
dence of a weakness they found it hard to com- 
prehend. But the Master, his hand now on 


THE GATHERING AT BARNEY’S 29 


Charlie's shoulder, faced the others, and spoke 
gravely. 

You see that Duff is not greatly to blame in 
this matter. He should not have had anything 
to do with such boys as Jones and Slater — he 
should not have hung around the saloon — that’s 
all. And you can see for yourselves that he is 
sorry for what has happened to Billy. He will 
suffer quite as much as Billy for this affair." 

“ You bet he will ! " Barney breathed the 
words so low that only the Master caught them, 
and he let them pass — for the moment. 

Then Mr. Marshall told them that Billy was 
being cared for in the Harding home, and would 
probably be out in a day or two. Finally, he said 
slowly, his grave eyes passing from face to face. 
Boys, you all like Billy, and you know how he 
cares for every boy in the troop. You know 
how much the honour of the troop means to him. 
If — because of what has happened to him — any 
boy in the troop should say or do what no Scout 
can do ^ on his honour ’ — you know how that 
would hurt Billy. It would hurt him far more 
than anything that could happen to himself. I 
want you all to remember that. This thing is 
not really going to do Billy any harm — his friends 
love and trust him too much for that." He 
turned to the boy whose face was still hidden. 

“ Come with me, Charlie," he said, and with a 
grave “ good-night " to them all, he went away, 
Charlie following him with drooping head. 


Ill 


UNDER THE STARS 

I T was late in the afternoon when Billy 
stirred, and looked with wide, bewildered 
eyes at Jack’s mother, who rose and went 
to him as she savf that he was conscious. 
“Feeling better, Billy?” she asked quietly. 

“ Have I — been sick ? Where — am I ? ” he 
asked, his swollen tongue making speech diffi- 
cult. 

“ You are in Jack’s home. Yes, you are sick, 
but you’ll soon be well.” 

He lifted eyes full of dumb appeal, his dazed 
brain working with painful slowness. “ T-tell 
me,” he begged. 

“ Not now. I’m going to bring something for 
you to take, and then you must sleep. You’ll 
feel better when you wake again,” Mrs. Harding 
said, leaving the room. She returned with some- 
thing hot in a bowl and Billy drank it obediently 
as she lifted his heavy head, and presently he 
slept. He was sleeping when Jack came and 
stood silently looking down at him, infinite love 
and pity in his eyes ; and when the Scout Master 
came, and he too looked down with love and pity 
at the white face on the pillow. Billy Burns, 
with not a relative in all the world, so far as he 
30 


UNDER THE STARS 


31 


knew, was rich, with two such loyal friends as 
Alan Marshall and Jack Harding, to say nothing 
of Barney and the rest of the troop. 

Jack tiptoed in again at bedtime. He did so 
wish that Billy would wake, just so that he could 
give him the Scout grip and smile into his 
oyes, so he'd know that he — Jack — understood 
and believed in him no matter what had hap- 
pened. But Billy slept on. 

When he awoke again, the pale glow of early 
dawn was just beginning to drive away the 
night shadows. There was a dim light burning 
in the hall, and Mrs. Harding, who had watched 
beside the boy during the first part of the night, 
was lying down in the next room. She had not 
meant to sleep, but she was very tired, and sleep 
caught her unawares. Remembering that she 
had told him that he was in Jack’s home, Billy 
began slowly to think back, groping his way to 
the truth. He remembered going to Barney’s — 
recalled the talk about Slater and Jones — ah! 
Those two names, like a lurid torch, flashed a 
sudden light into the thick darkness that had 
held him, blotting out a night and a day. It all 
came back to him now — Charlie, Jack Owen, the 
lemonade that Jim Slater brought into the little 
back room — the lemonade that was so cold and 
refreshing, yet had too, a little queer tang at the 
last — the strange, heavy numbness that would not 
let him get up and go home — it all came back 
to him clearly now. He could see again the 
expression in Charlie’s eyes as he looked over his 


32 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


glass, half curious, half frightened. But how 
had he come here — here to Jack Harding’s home ? 
Who had brought him here? But what matter 
who had done it? The dreadful thing was, that 
he had been brought here from Owen’s place — 
drunk! Yes, that was it of course. Slater had 
put something into that lemonade — he knew 
Owen would never do anything like that. 
Slater had done it, or Jones, and then some- 
how he had been brought here, and probably 
Jack had seen him so — Jack! He buried his 
face in the pillow and groaned in misery. What 
if it wasn’t his fault? He had brought shame — 
disgrace — into Jack Harding’s home — the one 
place in all the world he would have avoided. 
Oh, Jack would believe nothing against him, he 
knew that; but that did not alter the fact that 
he had brought something unspeakably dreadful 
into Jack’s beautiful home. Well, there was only 
one thing to do. He must get away at once — 
now, while they were all asleep — get away from 
everybody who knew him, until he could live 
down the shameful memory, and others might 
forget it. He sat up in bed. His head felt 
strangely heavy, and he could not reason clearly. 
Only the one thought buzzed and rang in his 
brain, Get away, get away — get away quick I ” 
The big clock in the hall ticked “ Get away I ” — 
he heard it plainly; and then instead of striking 
three, it struck — ‘‘ Get away quick I ” 

By the hall light he saw his Scout uniform 
neatly folded and laid on a chair, his shoes and 


UNDER THE STARS 


33 


stockings on the floor beside it. He dressed 
very slowly, his hands were so shaky, but he 
got into his clothes somehow and, with his shoes 
in his hand, crept silently down the stairs. Once 
outside, the night air refreshed him and cleared 
his head a little. He sat down on the steps and 
put on his shoes, and then turned up the street. 
He swayed as he walked, and sometimes his 
head felt light as a feather and again it felt 
heavy as lead, and his knees wabbled strangely 
under him ; but he went on, slowly at first, more 
rapidly as the cool night air steadied him. He 
must get away — get away — he seemed still to 
hear the tall clock ticking off the words. 

The Hardings lived on the heights, and it was 
not far to the open country. Billy had no idea 
where he was going — no thought of anything but 
to get away, so that his shame should not shadow 
Jack. Of course Jack's mother would not want 
him to have anything to do with a boy who had 
been drunk. They would think that was what 
was the matter with him. Wilson Harding never 
had liked Jack to be with him — Billy knew that. 
He'd hate it now. 

So on and on he went, his feet dragging more 
and more wearily as the light grew stronger in 
the east. He was very tired — only once before 
in his life had he felt such a benumbing weari- 
ness, and that was — was — he could not remem- 
ber how it was, only it seemed as if then, too, 
he had been wandering aimlessly along country 
roads as he was doing now. The strange 


34 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 

odour that clung to his clothes sickened him, 
and he was dizzy from want of food and from 
the effects of the drug, but he did not reason that 
out. He did not think clearly of any one but 
Jack — of anything but getting himself away 
from Jack, for Jack’s dear sake. 

So, stumbling on, he came to an empty shed 
with some dry grass in one corner, and dropping 
down there, fell instantly into a heavy slumber. 
It was noon when he awoke. His head was 
clearer and now he wanted food. He felt in his 
pockets — they were empty. “ Yes,” he muttered, 

they would be, of course — trust ‘ Light- 
fingered Jim ’ for that.” Then he remembered a 
tiny inner pocket in which Mr. Marshall had 
advised him to carry always a little money for 
an emergency. Had they found that too? He 
felt for it with his shaking fingers. No, they 
had not discovered it. He drew from it a two- 
dollar bill. So at the first house he came to,, he 
asked for something to eat, and offered to pay 
for it. The woman refused his money, but gave 
him bread and meat and a glass of milk. 

You’re a Boy Scout,” she said. ‘‘ The 
Scouts never steal our fruit when they pass this 
way. You are welcome to this.” 

He felt much stronger when he had eaten, but 
still his head was leaden-heavy. The woman 
advised him to go home. “ You look sick,” she 
said kindly. He thanked her and went on. 

All that afternoon he walked, stopping often 
to rest by the wayside, and at sunset he reached 


UNDER THE STARS 


35 


a village where he bought some bread and bacon 
and a few potatoes. He did not want lodging — 
Billy loved the open, and instinctively knew that 
it was better for him now to be under the stars 
than under any roof. So he passed through the 
village and came to a stream tumbling noisily 
down a hillside. He liked the noise it made — it 
sounded cheerful and friendly. Billy turned off 
the road and followed up the stream. There 
was a higher hill behind the first, and the stream 
tumbled down over small rocks there. He came 
at last to a ledge that rose high above the stream 
on one side. There was a big flat rock that 
seemed to have slipped down across two others, 
forming a little cave-like place. It looked good 
to Billy. “ ril stay here to-night,” he said to 
himself. It’s still. Seems as if I can sleep 
here an’ — an’ not hear that clock telling me to 
get away.” He sat down before the little cave, 
suddenly again conscious of great weariness. 
“ I’ll make a fire soon an’ broil some bacon,” he 
thought, but he did not stir. He sat there as 
motionless as the rock against which he leaned, 
while the sunset faded and twilight fell, and one 
by one silver stars pricked through the velvet 
blackness of the night sky. He did not sleep — 
he did not think. The drug he had swallowed 
seemed to have bound his senses anew. 

After a time something suddenly pierced 
through that numbness. Billy stirred uneasily 
and looked about him. Had something moved 
over yonder or was it just a shadow? He had 


36 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


a feeling of some living creature near him, 
though he could see none. 

Pm a fool,” he muttered. Ain’t a thing 
there — ’course there ain’t.” But still his eyes 
looked this way and that, seeking the thing he 
denied. Something was moving yonder — it 
surely was. A stray sheep maybe — he had passed 
a flock a while back — or a rabbit. His eyes 
watched the shadow. Surely it moved — crept 
now slowly — very slowly — towards him. With 
a listless curiosity Billy watched it draw nearer, 
inch by inch. Finally he laughed a little and 
held out his hand. 

Poor fellow, come along. I’m a stray dog, 
too,” he said, and the dog, divining a welcome, 
came up and licked his hand; then with a sigh 
of satisfaction that was almost human, lay down 
close beside him. 

Billy roused himself then and ate some bread, 
sharing it with this new friend. He was too 
tired to make a fire and cook the bacon. We’ll 
have that for breakfast,” he told the dog, slip- 
ping the provisions into a crevice in the rocks. 

Reckon I want sleep more than anything else.” 
So he crept into the little cave, stretched him- 
self out, and slept, his arm over the dog that, 
snuggled close against him, seemed to warm his 
lonely heart as well as his shivering body. 

It was early when he awoke. He was lame 
and stiff, for his rock bed was a hard one, but 
his head felt all right now. He could think, and 
he had many things to think out. But breakfast 


UNDER THE STARS 


37 


first. He set off to gather wood for a fire, and 
found plenty of dry stuff in a pine grove near by. 
The dog, a rough-haired mongrel with eyes as 
honest as Billy’s own — stuck to him like a burr, 
tagging close at his heels. Billy made his fire, 
baked a couple of potatoes in the ashes, and 
toasted strips of bacon on a pointed stick. He 
was hungry and so was the dog, and they ate 
in contented fellowship. 

I never had a dog before, but I’m going to 
keep you if I can,” he said, looking into the in- 
telligent brown eyes. You’ve got no collar, so 
I guess nobody owns you. Want to be my 
dog?” 

The dog wagged his tail and did his best to 
say “yes.” 

“ All right then,” said Billy. “ I’ll call you — 
Pal. How do you like that, old Pal ? ” 

The dog wagged his tail harder, licking the 
hand that was patting his head, and so he was 
christened. 

Then Billy sat for a long time very still — 
thinking. And as he thought his eyes grew trou- 
bled. “ I’ve been a fool again,” he told himself 
moodily. “ ’T wasn’t my fault — what Jim an’ 
Tom did to me — I couldn’t help that. It was 
mean as dirt for them to leave me at Harding’s.” 
He shuddered with shame and disgust as he 
thought of Jack and Mrs. Harding and Wilson 
seeing him so. “ But Jack wouldn’t believe I was 
to blame for that, an’ the Scout Master wouldn’t 
either. Mebbe — Jack’s mother would — but if she 


38 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


did, it was all the nicer of her to put me in that 
clean bed an’ take care of me. An’ then for 
me to sneak off in the night the way I did — like 
a thief — an’ never stop to say ‘ thank ye ’ for all 

she did for me ” The hot colour flamed in 

his cheeks. “ Aw, what did I do it for, any- 
how? Why didn’t I have sense enough to stay 
an’ tell ’em just how it happened? An’ now 
Jack’ll be worryin’ about me, an’ Barney too, 

an’ the Scout Master ” 

Suddenly the dog pricked up his ears and gave 
a short, quick bark, and Billy, pricking up his 
ears, thought he heard voices. He got up and 
went around the ledge, and looking back the 
way he had come the night before, saw a com- 
pany of boys in khaki climbing the steep path. 
At sight of him there was a chorus of shouts 
and yells, and one Scout — the smallest — darted 
ahead, crying out, “ Billy — Billy 

Billy stood quite still and silent till Jack, too 
breathless to speak at first, flung his arms around 
him and gave him a regular bear hug,” his face 
beaming with happiness. Then he turned and 
beckoned his comrades, crying impatiently, Oh, 
come on — come onl” and presently they were 
all there — the Scout Master and all the troop 
except two. Wilson Harding had refused to 
come, and Charlie Duff had not been allowed to, 
in spite of his pleading — the others in his patrol 
would not have him. Barney caught Billy’s hand 
in a grip that hurt, but he said nothing — nor 
needed to. The other South End boys — neigh- 


UNDER THE STARS 


39 


hours of Barney and Billy in the old days — 
crowded about, a score of questions trembling on 
their tongues. But it was Billy who asked the 
first question. 

“ How did you find me ? ” 

Jack laughed and pointed to the fire. We 
were watching for smoke,” he said. We hunted 
yesterday, but we took the wrong road. “ You 
will go back with us, Billy ? ” he ended anxiously. 

“ ’Course I will.” Billy’s hand dropped on the 
little fellow’s shoulder and rested there, as he 
faced the others. “ It was mighty good of you- 
all to come after me, but I should have gone 
back to-day, anyhow. I’d never have cleared out 
so if my head had been right. When I woke 
there in the night, and remembered what had 
happened, I — I could only think of one thing, 
and that was that I’d brought shame into Jack’s 
home. No, Jack ” — as the boy broke into quick 
protest — I don’t mean that you felt I had, but 
that’s the way it seemed to me then, an’ I jest 
couldn't stand it — I couldn’t ! I had to get away. 
You see, my head was muddled — I couldn’t think 
straight, and — and — so I jest had to get out. 

“ I’m all right now, an’ I know I wasn’t to 
blame — except for clearing out so — an’ I’m going 
straight back to tell Jack’s mother how it was, 

an’ to — an’ to, thank her ” But here Billy’s 

voice suddenly failed him, and he turned aside 
abruptly. 

‘‘ We understand all about it, Billy,” the Scout 
Master said quickly, “and Mrs. Harding will 


40 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


understand, too. She was anxious because she 
knew you were not fit to walk. Charlie Duf¥ 
told the whole story.’^ 

“ He didn’t do anything mean — Charlie did- 
n’t,” Billy said, and turned quickly to Barney. 

You mustn’t take it out on Charlie,” he urged. 

"" I sha’n’t trouble him,” Barney flung out, but 
his mouth was set in a grim line, and Billy shook 
his head. He knew Barney. 

Suppose we stop and have breakfast — we 
started early,” the Master suggested. “ Have 
you had yours, Billy?” 

Billy nodded. But I could take some cof- 
fee,” he added, as one of the boys pulled a coffee- 
pot from his knapsack. He brought out the 
remains of his provisions, and soon they were 
all gathered about the fire, enjoying bacon and 
bread and coffee. Pal was at once adopted as 
the “ mascot ” of the troop. He was very friendly 
with all the boys, almost wagging his tail off to 
express his good will, but he always went back 
to Billy. 

An hour later the boys were swinging along 
the road to the nearest trolley line. Billy was 
very quiet on the way back, and he left the car 
with Jack. 

“ I got to see his mother,” he explained briefly 
to the Master. 

''All right, Billy. I’ll see you to-morrow,” 
the Master said, giving the boy a grip that Billy 
understood and appreciated. 


IV 


A GOOD BEGINNING 
HERE came a Friday when Troop 5 set 



off for a week-end at a place owned by 


a friend of Alan Marshall’s who had in- 
vited the boys to his house for supper. The 
next day being a legal holiday, the boys who 
worked were free, and all were on hand in gay 
spirits. Their camp equipment was carried on 
a handcart which the boys took turns in push- 
ing or pulling. They started early so as to have 
time to set up the tents before dark, and reached 
the Virginia farm in good season. Their host’s 
two little sons, Fred and Dick Houston, were 
watching for them, and were immensely inter- 
ested in the troop. They watched with fascinated 
eyes the process of making camp, and when all 
was done, led the way to the big, old-fashioned 
mansion. 

In the large dining-room of the Houston home 
the table had been stretched to its utmost dimen- 
sions, and smaller tables set on the wide porch, 
all loaded with the most bountiful of Southern 
suppers. 

Supper over, a whispered suggestion passed 
from one Scout to another till it reached Mr. 
Marshall, who voiced it in an invitation to Mr. 


41 


42 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


and Mrs. Houston and the boys to attend the 
council fire at the camp. The invitation being 
promptly accepted, the boys departed to make 
ready. In nearby woods they found plenty of 
dry stuff for a fire, and selected a safe place 
for it down on the river bank where there were 
no trees. A bundle of long, pointed sticks was 
made ready, and two pails full of lemonade. 

When the guests arrived, the troop received 
them with honours. To his immense delight, 
Fred was allowed to light the fire, and all gath- 
ered about it for the regular council, followed 
by an hour of music and story-telling. The drum 
and bugle corps did its best and all the boy?* 
joined in the singing. Then Mr. Houston told 
of an experience of his own in a bear hunt — a 
story that was full of delightful thrills and 
scares that made little Dick snuggle close to his 
mother’s side. 

But the climax of the evening came when the 
Scout Master announced that Mr. Houston was 
going to give the site for a troop camp, and the 
material for a log-cabin to be built on it. At that, 
every Scout was on his feet, and the cheer that 
went up must have startled all the wild things 
in the woods. Even the river caught it up and 
echoed it back from its further bank. In their 
excitement the boys almost forgot to toast their 
marshmallows and pass around the lemonade — 
almost but not quite. 

Finally Mr. and Mrs. Houston and Dicky — 
who by this time was too sleepy to hold his eyes 


A GOOD BEGINNING 


43 


open— went back to the house, leaving Fred, to 
his intense delight, to spend the night at the 
camp, Jack having offered to share his bed with 
the little fellow. Soon the troop bugler sounded 
'' taps,” and a little later the camp was dark and 
silent, and every boy in it sound asleep — all 
but Fred Houston. For an hour or more he lay 
wide-eyed in the darkness, little shivers of min- 
gled terror and delight creeping over his spine. 
He was going to be a Boy Scout sure, as soon 
as he was twelve ; but meantime he was glad that 
he could hear Jack’s even breathing close be- 
side him. But soon Fred, too, slept till the sil- 
ver-sweet bugle call aroused him, and he tum- 
bled sleepy-eyed out of bed, and ran down to the 
river with the others for a morning plunge. 

Then came breakfast, with some fish that the 
Scout Master had caught before any one else 
was awake, fried potatoes, and hot cornbread 
baked. Southern fashion, before the fire — with 
coffee for those who wanted it. 

“ Tastes lot’s better 'n our breakfasts at home,” 
Fred declared, his cheeks puffed out like a squir- 
rel’s. But there was no loitering over breakfast 
this morning — the boys were too eager about the 
log-house they were to build. They wanted to 
begin it at once, and come out every Friday till 
it was completed. 

Mr. Houston appeared early — perhaps he 
guessed that the boys would be impatient — and a 
site for the cabin was soon selected. Then, 
with a twinkle in his eyes, Mr. Houston pointed 


U BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


to a patch of woods at the bottom of a steep, 
sloping bank. 

“ You’re welcome to all of that timber down 
in the hollow if you can find a way to get it up 
here/’ he said. 

“ Fer the love of Mike, how’ll we ever get it 
up?” muttered Finnegan in Barney’s ear, and 
for a moment there was a dismayed silence, but 
only for a moment. 

“ We’ll find a way to haul it up,” one boy de- 
clared stoutly, and at once an eager group had 
heads together discussing ways and means. 
Presently one boy asked Mr. Houston if he had 
any old waggon-wheels that they could borrow. 

“ Probably,” he answered. There’s a lot of 
old stuff in a shed near the big barn. Fred will 
show you the way. You can have anything you 
find there, and welcome.” 

The boys thanked him and half a dozen of 
them raced off with Fred. Mr. Houston went 
back to the house, leaving the Scout Master with 
the rest of the troop, discussing plans for the new 
house. 

“ We’ll feel like pioneers,” one exulted. 

Won’t it be jolly to do it all ourselves ! ” 
We’ll have to have saws and axes,” Wilson 
reminded. 

“ Gee ! I wish we had some here now. I 
want to see that cabin going up,” cried Frazer. 
“ Mr. Marshall, do you know how to build a 
real log-cabin ? ” 

“ I must admit that I never have actually built 


A GOOD BEGINNING 


45 


one. We must have the help of some one who 
has, for we want to make a good job of this,” the 
Master replied. 

Then Dick Houston piped up, “ I reckon our 
Uncle Moses could show you. He built the log- 
house he lives in.” 

“ Lead us to him — lead us to him, kid ! ” cried 
half a dozen eager voices, and Dick started on 
the run, the Scouts at his heels. 

They came back in a little while, followed 
by an old, grey-headed negro whose wrinkled 
face was one big grin as he answered the ques- 
tions with which the eager boys pelted him. 

“Yes, suh; yes, suh, I kin show you-all how 
to build a sure-’nough log-cabin,” he told the 
Scout Master. “ I done helped build a-many, an’ 
I kin build ’em right.” 

“ Axes? You-all don’t need bring no axes an’ 
saws — we got a-plenty,” he said, when some one 
spoke of needed tools, “ an’ Mahster Houston 
he say you’m to have all what ye need fer build- 
in’. An’ we kin grind dem axes too, an’ make 
’em right sharp. I reckon Mahster Houston’ll 
let me he’p build dat cabin, en I sure would 
enj’y it. I didn’t spect to build no more log- 
cabins in dis world.” 

“ It would be fine to have you help,” the boys 
assured him, at which the old fellow’s smile 
stretched nearly to his ears. 

The other Scouts and Fred came back with 
two waggon-wheels, old, but still strong, and a 
heavy framework resembling a waggon- tongue. 


46 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“ See/' Frazer cried, “ we can put a log on this 
thing, and some of us pulling and some push- 
ing, we'll yank it up that slope in a jiffy.” 

“Yes, I believe that will do the work," the 
Master agreed. 

Then followed another discussion of plans, 
which one boy, who aspired to be an architect, 
put into shape for a rough working drawing. 
With the help of Uncle Moses they estimated the 
number of logs that would be needed, and marked 
the trees to be cut. For the chimney there was 
plenty of loose stone and rock along the river 
bank, and clay in abundance for the digging. 

For the next week the log-cabin was the en- 
grossing subject of conversation whenever two 
or more members of Troop 5 came together. 
They were all wild to begin the building. 

They set off Friday afternoon, and found the 
Houston boys watching for them, each proudly 
wearing a Scout “ uniform " as they called their 
khaki suits. 

“We can't be really Scouts till we’re twelve, 
I know, but we’re going to be learning. Papa’s 
got us the Scout book," Fred announced, as he 
dropped into step beside Jack, whom he claimed 
as his special friend and comrade. 

The next morning work began in earnest. 
Old Uncle Moses was on hand bright and early, 
and, as soon as breakfast was eaten and the camp 
in order, the tree- felling began. It was real 
“ pioneer " work this — hard work, no play about 
it. But the boys quickly caught the knack of 





yy 


IT WAS FASCINATING TO SEE THOSE WALLS GO UP 








A GOOD BEGINNING 


47 


swinging the axe in the most effective fashion, 
and the old darkey grinned as the trees toppled 
over. Then they must be trimmed, cut to length, 
loaded on the tongue-and-wheels, and pulled 
up the slope. It was a man’s job — raising those 
logs. The boys puffed over it, but nobody 
shirked. 

When enough logs for a beginning had been 
brought up, part of the boys continued the cut- 
ting and hauling while the rest, under old 
Moses’ direction, began the building. The logs 
were carefully measured, and “ nicked ” in such 
fashion that the corners fitted perfectly. The 
clay had been prepared beforehand, and now the 
logs were fitted together, and the walls actually 
began to rise. After a while the two “ squads ” 
exchanged work, those who had been felling 
trees and hauling, taking their turn at the easier 
and more fascinating task of building up the 
walls. It was fascinating to see those walls go 
up. The boys worked so enthusiastically that 
the Scout Master had to hold them back rather 
than urge them on. 

You see, Mr. Marshall, we’ve got so little 
time, we have to work fast,” one of them said, 
voicing the general sentiment. 

And they did work fast — so fast that, when 
darkness stopped them the four walls of the 
cabin looked like a little stockade. 

''Gee! But I hate to stop,” Don Frazer ex- 
claimed, as he reluctantly clambered down from 
the top of the wall. " To think we’ve got to 


48 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


leave it that way a whole week ! he la- 
mented. 

“ Yes, it's fierce ! Fd like to stay and work 
to-morrow," Nolan said, but Frazer shook his 
head. 

“No go. Scout Master won’t stand for Sun- 
day work, you know." 

There was no lingering over supper with a 
seven-mile walk between them and home, and 
before it was fairly dark they were on their way 
— this time unhampered by camp impedimenta, 
as Mr. Houston had told them to leave it all in 
an empty loft of his. So they travelled “ light," 
and, with the help of lanterns and flash-lights, 
made good time, and were at home before ten 
o’clock. 

The “ pull ’’ of that troop-house was so great 
that, the next week, several of the boys who 
worked, took a holiday without pay, that they 
might share in the fun. Barney Doyle was one 
of these. Barney was one of the biggest fel- 
lows in Troop 5, and one of the most depend- 
able workers. 

“ Barney’s got the muscle — he’ll help a lot," 
Billy confided to Jack. 

They pushed on rapidly, eager to show those 
who had not been with them the previous week, 
what had been accomplished, and to talk over 
what was still to be done. 

“ Just around that next turn and we’ll see it," 
Jack cried out to Billy and Barney, at last. “ I 
want to run, don’t you ? " 


A GOOD BEGINNING 


49 


Billy nodded, but he kept step steadily with 
the rest. But when they swung around the 
bend, a look of bewilderment swept across every 
face, and with one impulse the troop halted for 
a moment, then broke ranks and dashed for- 
ward on the run, staring with flushed faces and 
angry eyes at the place where their walls should 
have been — for no walls were there. The logs 
they had fitted and laid so carefully were scat- 
tered about, some near by, some flung off into 
the underbrush, some, as they discovered later, 
even rolled down into the hollow. 

By jingo, this is fierce ! 

** It’s a beastly shame ! ” 

''Gee! But I’d like to get hold of whoever 
did it!” 

So half a dozen cried out, and Jack turned to 
the Scout Master saying, “ Who could have done 
it, Mr. Marshall — who could? ” 

Billy stood for a long minute, utterly still 
and silent. Then his eyes and Barney’s met, and 
both nodded. 

“ It’s them — Tom an’ Jim — bet yer life it is,” 
Barney muttered in Billy’s ear. 

Charlie Duff, catching the low-spoken words, 

flushed scarlet. “If it’s them ” he began, and 

then fell silent, his weak lips, for once, set in a 
firm line. But nobody was paying attention just 
then to Charlie Duff, for Fred Houston came 
racing towards them, Dick tagging at his heels. 

“Ain’t it the meanest?” Fred cried out. 
“ They did it that same night — last Sat’ day 


50 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


night. Dick and me found it so when we came 
here Sunday evening.” 

What does your father think about it, 
Fred?” the Master asked. 

“ He said he didn’t know what to think. He 
doesn’t believe anybody living ’round here would 
do it, an’ Unk Moses says he knows the darkies 
wouldn’t.” 

Barney spoke across Fred’s head, to the Scout 
Master. I reckon it’s some of their spite-work 
— Jones and Slater’s. It’s like them — ^nobody 
else would be so mean.” 

“If it is, they must have been somewhere 
about while we were at work here last week.” 

Barney nodded. “ Likely they followed the 
troop out from town — or they might just ’a’ 
“been prowlin’ ’round out here an’ happened on 
the camp. Either way, I bet ye they done it.” 

Nolan flung himself down on the ground. 
“ All our hard work gone fer nothin’ ! ” he grum- 
bled. “ No use doin’ anything if fellers like them 
are goin’ to spoil it all.” 

“ Huh, we don’t give up that easy,” Billy de- 
clared. “ We’ll build the house and find a way 
to make them let it alone too.” 

“ That’s right, Billy — we’ll do that,” Alan 
Marshall returned cheerfully. “ Come, boys, no 
more grumbling over what has happened.” He 
gave orders for making camp and preparing sup- 
per, and went off to consult Mr. Houston. The 
boys obeyed orders promptly and well, and had 
everything ship-shape when the Scout Master 


A GOOD BEGINNING 


51 


returned. Meantime old Uncle Moses came 
limping through the woods to condole with the 
boys, and prophesy all manner of misfortune on 
the evil-doers, whoever they might be. 

“Ain’ no Ferginny niggers done dat trick, I 
tell ye, suhs,” he declared. “ H’it’s some low- 
down white trash from de city done h’it. 
Dey’ll git dey comeuppence, suah. We-all 
gwine ter keep watch next time twel de clay is 
sot, den dey have dey ban’s full ef dey onder- 
take ter fling down our cabin agin.” 


V 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 

T OW, boys,” the Scout Master said as 
they sat down to supper, '' let the mat- 
^ ter drop for the present. Has anybody 
a funny story to tell? We need a good laugh 
for a digester.” 

A thin, grave- faced boy — nicknamed ‘‘ Skinny ” 
Langston — drawled out a story that brought 
forth shouts of laughter, and Mr. Marshall 
capped it with a comical experience of his own. 
So the supper was a merry one, and everybody 
felt better after it. 

“ Now then,” the Master said when, supper 
over, they gathered about the campfire, while 
we hold our council, we want to be sure that 
there are no eavesdroppers, so we will post 
guards about the camp. I call for four volun- 
teers for guard duty.” 

Instantly half a dozen boys volunteered — 
though every one of them wanted to take part 
in the discussion. The Master selected four, and 
posted them just out of hearing. Then he began : 

“ It is no small undertaking to build a good 
log-house — we’ve found that out already. It 
means a deal of real hard work, and we’ve seen 
that it may all go for naught. What do you say 
52 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 53 

— shall we give up the plan of building a troop- 
house here ? 

No, sir! ” a chorus of voices answered. 

In spite of what has happened, then, you 
want to go on with the building? A standing 
vote, please. Those in favour ’’ 

Instantly every boy was on his feet. 

“ The ayes seem to have it,’" said the Master, 
his eyes alight. Boys, Tm proud of you. I 
should have been greatly disappointed if you 
had given up because of this reverse. We will 
build the house, and it will not be disturbed 
again, I am sure.” 

Then Sidney Hart spoke. He was assistant 
scout master of the troop, and one of the oldest 
of the boys. “ Mr. Marshall, I move that we 
make sure that it will not be disturbed by leav- 
ing several boys on guard over Sunday.” 

‘‘ Me fer one of the guards ! ” shouted Barney 
instantly. 

“ And me.” That was Billy. 

“And me!'' Finnegan’s shrill voice yelled. 

“ That’s a good idea, Hart,” the Master re- 
turned. “ By Sunday night, the clay filling will 
have hardened so that it would be difficult to tear 
down the walls.” 

“ Bet ye the fellers that did it that time had 
a tough job,” put in Finnegan, with a chuckle. 
“ Must ’a’ worked as hard as we did.” 

The Scout Master went on, “ You, Barney, 
Finnegan, and Billy Burns, who have asked for 
the duty, may remain on guard. You can make 


54 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


your own arrarfgements for the night. Barney, 
I put you in charge — the others to obey your 
orders.” 

Wish I was in that squad,” sighed Carter. 

“ I too,” cried Jack. Mr. Marshall, can’t 
you add just one to Barney’s squad ? ” he 
pleaded. 

“ No, Jack, no more volunteers,” the Master 
answered. “ Three are enough.” 

There was no disputing Alan Marshall’s or- 
ders, but there was some grumbling among the 
boys, as they realised that the lucky three might 
have an exciting time, if those, who had done 
the mischief should attempt to repeat it. 

Taps sounded early that night, as there was 
to be an unusually early breakfast; and eyqry 
boy was out of bed the next morning at the 
first note of the bugle. A good hot breakfast 
was prepared, but it was speedily dispatched, 
and the camp put in order in record time. Then 
the boys were divided into three squads — one 
to collect, and roll or haul back the scattered 
logs ; the second to haul up again those that had 
been pitched down into the hollow, and the third, 
composed of the younger boys, to run errands 
or help, in any way, the older workers. 

Old Moses appeared before the work was 
fairly under way. He was jealous of his repu- 
tation as a log-house builder, and eager to di- 
rect the work. And how the boys did work ! In 
an amazingly short time the logs had been 
brought back, and the rebuilding began. That, 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 


55 


too, went better than before, because the boys 
had learned what they had to do, and how they 
best could handle the heavy logs. One of them 
covered himself with glory by rigging up a 
tackle with which the logs could be lifted to 
the required height as the walls went up. 

“ Golly . Nevah did see no cabin go up so 
fast,” the old darkey muttered more than once. 

Mos’ all I kin do to keep up wid ye.” 

As a matter of fact, he could not keep up 
with them, though the boys gaily assured him 
that it was he who kept them hustling. The 
smaller boys were the cooks that day, and 
never was the call to dinner more reluctantly 
obeyed. 

“ ’D rather work than eat,” Barney growled as 
he dropped down from the wall where he had 
just settled the top log into position. Then he 
lifted his face and sniffed. “ Great Scott! Some- 
thing smells mighty good. What is it? I’m 
hungry as a bear.” 

Others were sniffing that appetising odour, and 
realising that they were ravenously hungry. 
“ It ” was found to be a rich, hearty stew of 
veal, chicken, and vegetables that Mrs. Houston 
had sent down, piping hot — a stew that filled 
her great preserving kettle to the brim. The 
hungry boys broke their pilot bread into it, and 
feasted royally. 

Jumping cats, but that was good I ” ex- 
claimed Carter, scraping his dish after a sec- 
ond helping. Say, Mr. Marshall, can’t we get 


56 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


the recipe for this and make it the ‘ best ever * 
of Troop 5? 

Maybe. We’ll find out about it later,” the 
Scout Master answered, “ and we’ll give Mrs. 
Houston proof of our appreciation of her kind- 
ness, when our cabin is ready for guests.” 

“ You bet we will ! ” shouted one of the smaller 
boys, licking the last drops of gravy from his 
spoon. 

Back the boys went with fresh vigour and de- 
termination, and merrily the work went on. 
Sometimes they sang, sometimes they whistled, 
sometimes they lifted and sawed and pounded 
in silence — but they never stopped until the call 
to supper rang out. They were not so reluctant 
now to quit work, for even the strongest of them 
were tired. They ran down to the river for a 
dip or a wash, and came back with sleek, wet 
heads, and hands and faces shining clean. 

Ginger, but this is good ! ” Miller exclaimed, 
stretching his tired young body on the grass. 
But he sat up promptly when Jack Harding 
brought him a plate heaped with baked beans 
and brown bread, and a cup of steaming coffee. 

“ I could eat pine-cones to-night, Jacky, I’m 
that hungry,” he said, “ but I like beans and 
brown bread better.” 

'' Lucky we brought plenty,” Jack grinned, if 
they’re all as hungry as you are.” 

‘‘Me? I’m not a circumstance to Barney 
Doyle. He’s begun on his second plate al- 
ready,” laughed the other. 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 


57 


They took supper in leisurely fashion, with an 
hour’s rest after it, before the buglers blew the 
call to the colours ” and the flags came down. 
Then “ taps ” sounded and the tents fell. 
Swiftly the camp outfit was carried back to the 
farm, and then the boys set off on their way to 
the nearest trolley line, as the Master thought 
that a seven-mile tramp would be too much after 
such a strenuous day’s work. 

Barney, Billy, and Finnigan set off with the 
others, but dropped out after going half a mile. 

I do wish I could stay with you, Billy. It 
would be a real lark,” Jack sighed, as Billy 
stepped aside. “ Good luck and a lively time to 
you.” 

The others did not stop — only the Scout Mas- 
ter waited for a last word to Barney — then the 
troop swung on, and the three left behind re- 
traced their steps in silence. They had replaced 
their shoes with moccasins, and they moved as 
noiselessly as possible. They had left some 
blankets hidden away in the bushes, and had 
made their plans during the day — dividing the 
night into three watches, Barney and Billy taking 
the first watch. 

Finnegan found the blankets and wrapped 
himself in them, but at first he was too excited 
to sleep. He had worked hard that day, how- 
ever, and before long he began to blink, and in 
half an hour he was sound asleep. The other 
two sat silent in the darkness, eyes and ears 
alert. Barney was sure that Jim and Tom had 


58 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


been somewhere near all day — sure that they 
would not have failed to be there to enjoy see- 
ing the Scouts do all that hard work over again. 
But they were no fools — they would suspect that 
precautions would be taken to prevent a repeti- 
tion of their destructive work, and they would 
be careful. Still, they couldn't tumble off those 
heavy logs without making a noise. Barney's 
strong hands clenched — he longed to get them on 
to those two. It was not only for this latest 
exploit — it was even more because of what they 
had done to Billy Burns, that Barney longed to 
get hold of them. 

The minutes dragged slowly by. It was not 
still — the night was vocal with small, mysterious 
sounds, and even under the trees it was not quite 
dark; when the eyes of the boys grew accus- 
tomed to the dim light — they could distinguish 
darker shadows in the dusk. They could hear 
each other’s quick breathing, and a restless move- 
ment now and then, as tired muscles demanded 
change of posture. Time passed more and more 
slowly. Billy caught himself nodding, and 
straightened up with a jerk. Then suddenly he 
felt Barney’s hand on his with a warning pres- 
sure, and he was wide awake in an instant, 
straining his eyes and ears through the black- 
ness. Something surely was moving over near 
the cabin. The boys held their breath, every 
nerve and muscle tense. 

“ There is somebody.” Barney barely breathed 
the words into the other boy’s ear. “ Get up — 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 


59 


don't make a sound.” As he spoke, he rose 
silently to his feet, and crept forward, inch by 
inch, Billy following. The cabin stood in an 
open space and, by the light of the stars the 
boys made out a dark figure in front of the wall. 
In a moment it vanished. 

Gone inside,” Barney whispered again in 
Billy’s ear. 

Then came a muffled thud — a log knocked off, 
of course. Barney waited no longer. “ Come 
on,” he said, and dashed forward and through 
the open doorway, Billy at his heels. He could 
see something dark in one corner, and he made 
a dive for it, but as he did so, a strong hand 
caught his clenched fist, and another clutched 
his throat. He tried to call out — to warn Billy; 
but then he heard a gurgling cry, and realised 
that Billy too was in trouble. 

“ You-all keep still now er I’ll brain yeh sure 
'nough,” a savage voice warned him. 

Barney was quite willing to be still — for the 
moment — if only his throat could be freed from 
that strangling grip. Instinctively he let him- 
self droop limply against his captor, and at that 
the strangling clutch loosened a little. 

You’re — choking me,” he gasped out. 

An’ chokin’s too good fer yeh — low-down 
white trash,” the soft, thick voice muttered. 
“ Sam, yeh got the other one ? ” 

Uh-huh — got him all right,” answered an- 
swered another thick voice from the opposite 


comer. 


60 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


But Barney had had time to get his breath and, 
with a sudden swift movement he freed his right 
hand, and gave his captor a vicious blow on the 
jaw. For a moment he was free, but only for 
a moment. Then his hands were caught again, 
and deftly tied behind him. 

There now, I reckon you-all won’t bust no 
mo’ walls down ter-night,” said the thick voice 
in a tone of satisfaction. 

Now Barney began to realise what had hap- 
pened. “You big fool!” he cried. “We’re 
Scouts. They left us here to keep guard to- 
night.” 

“ Huh I Tell that to yer granny 1 ” retorted 
his captor scornfully. “ Got the other one tied, 
Sam?” 

Sam said he had. 

“ All right then, we’ll run ’em over ter the 
lock-up. Come on, you ! ” He gave Barney a 
yank. “ Ef yer don’ come erlong ’thout no 
fuss I’ll squeeze yer windpipe ag’in.” 

“ But look here — take us to Mr. Houston — he 
knows us. He’ll see we’re Scouts,” Barney 
urged. 

The negroes laughed. “ Scouts nothin’,” re- 
turned Barney’s captor. “ Yeh kin tell that 
story ter him in the mawnin’. Ain’ goin’ ter 
wake him up this time o’ night fer no cabin- 
busters like you-all.” 

“ All right then — just you wait an’ see what 
Mr. Houston will have to say to you, in the 
morning.” 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 


61 


Something in Barney’s voice and manner evi- 
dently impressed the other man, for he said 
doubtfully, “Ye don’ reckon they is Boy Scouts, 
George ? ” 

“ We sure are. Here — put your hand in my 
left pocket an’ you’ll find a match-case. Strike 
a match an’ you’ll see our uniforms,” said Bar- 
ney. 

“ Mebbe yeh better, George,” the other man 
advised, “ but don’ let go a-hold of him.” 

“ I ain’ lettin’ go,” the other responded 
grimly; but Barney’s quick ear noted a change 
in his manner. Barney spoke again in a tone 
of authority. 

“ Strike a match quick — ^you ! You’re a pair 
of blunderin’ fools. Mebbe you want to go off 
with us an’ give the fellers you’re after a chance 
to pull our walls down again — while you’re 
gone.” 

“ Say, George, mebbe it’s like he says. Bet- 
ter strike a light an’ see,” came the warning voice 
again. 

And still keeping a firm hold of Barney, his 
captor struck a match. As its light fell on the 
khaki uniform, he exclaimed: 

“ Golly ef it ain’ so. He sure is got on de 
Scout clo’es.” 

“Now, let us go, blockhead! '' Barney cried 
out angrily. “ Who sent you here, any- 
how?” 

“ Mr. Houston. We wuk fer him an’ he tol’ 
tis to watch an’ see de walls ain’ frew down ag’in 


62 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


ter-night,” one of the men explained. We 
shore is sorry. Never once ’magined any Scouts 
staid roun’ yere.” 

“ It’s all right, Barney — they ain’t to blame,” 
Billy interposed. “ They were obeying orders 
same’s we were,” 

“ You’re right,” Barney admitted, reluctantly, 
for his throat still ached from that strangle- 
pressure. “ What’s the matter with you? ” he 
added, as Sam dropped to the ground with a 
groan. 

“ H’it’s my shoulder. I reckon I done sprained 
it tryin’ ter hoi’ this feller. Get the lantern, 
George, an’ light h’it.” 

With evident reluctance, George let go his 
hold of Barney and went off. He came back 
with a lighted lantern. 

Untie my hands,” Billy called, and then 
to the other man, “ Take off your coat an’ 
let me see your shoulder.” And as the man 
shrank away from him, muttering something 
about a doctor, Billy added, “ I know a little 
about doctoring — all Scouts do. Pull off your 
coat. Barney, you hold the lantern.” 

The shoulder bared, Billy lifted the arm and 
gave a quick pull and twist that brought from 
the man a sharp yelp of pain. 

There — it’s all right now. ’Twas out of 
joint, that’s all,” Billy said. 

The man moved the arm carefully two or 
three times; then his mouth stretched in a wide 
grin. Golly, boss, you suah is some doctor,” 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 63 

he said. “ Never knew Boy Scouts could do 
sech tricks.*’ 

‘‘ Boy Scouts know a little of everything — 
have to,” Barney said. ‘‘ Now, do you want to 
take us over to Mr. Houston’s?” 

“Great Moses, no!'' cried Sam. Then in a 
wheedling tone, “ You-all won’ say nuffin ter 
Mr. Houston ’bout this? H’it was jes’ a mis- 
take. Might anybody mek a mistake — in de 
•dark, yeh know, suh.” 

“ All right, we’ll forget it,” Barney replied. 
“ And now you can clear out. We’ll keep watch 
the rest of the night. If anybody’s been around 
they’d have been scared off with all this rumpus, 
anyhow.” 

“ Yer right — dey sure would,” the men replied, 
and with apologies and good-nights they van- 
ished. 

“ Wonder why Finnegan didn’t come to see 
what was going on,” Barney said then to Billy. 

Le’s go find out.” 

They found out — for they found Finnegan 
sound asleep in his blankets. 

“ Well, ril be — buttered — if he ain’t slept 
right through it all ! ” chuckled Billy, as Barney 
shook the other boy into wakefulness, none too 
gently. 

“ Wh- what’s the matter?” Finnegan grum- 
bled. “ Le’ me ’lone, can’t ye ? ” Then, with 
dawning realisation, he sprang up. “ Say — 
Fave they come again ? ” 

The other boys shouted with laughter while. 


64^ BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 

in the darkness, Finnegan rubbed his eyes with 
growing anger. When, however, they told him 
what had happened, his mood changed. 

To think of me sleepin’ through all the 
fun ! ” he lamented. “ Fm a bloomin’ guard, I 
am.” 

“ It’s all right, Finnegan,” Billy assured him. 

You wasn’t on duty. You’d a right to 
sleep.” 

“ You’re on duty now, though,” Barney added. 
“ Billy, you turn in, an’ I’ll keep him awake if 
I have to stick pins in him.” 

“ All right. Wake me when time’s up,” said 
Billy, and in two minutes he was sound 
asleep. 

“ Ain’t much use us keepin’ watch now,” Bar- 
ney said in a low tone. “If there was anybody 
bangin’ ’round that rumpus would have scared 
’em off. They’d know we were watchin’ fer 
’em.” 

“ Then why can’t we turn in an’ get some 
sleep?” questioned Finnegan with a yawn. 

''Sleep!'' growled Barney. “ Scouts obey or- 
ders, don’t they? Scout Master ordered us to 
watch, an’ we’re goin’ to watch till mornin’.” 

“ Oh, all right. Keep yer hair on ! ” retorted 
Finnegan gruffly, and for a while no more was 
said. 

Three hours later, Barney took his turn sleep- 
ing, and Billy joined Finnegan on guard. 

“ All foolishness— us watchin’ the rest of the 
night,” Finnegan grumbled towards morning. 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 65 

** NobodyM come now when it's almost day- 
light." 

Barney opened his eyes then and stretched 
himself with a laugh. 

“Of all the sleepy-heads ! " he exclaimed. 
“ Flop down then, an' sleep/ I've had enough," 
and he sat down beside Billy. 

Long fingers of light were showing now 
among the trees, and in silence the two boys 
watched them brighten, while roosters flung their 
challenges over wide spaces, and the hoarse 
cawing of the crows sounded across the 
river. 

Finally Barney dug an elbow into Billy's ribs, 
and pointed to Finnegan sitting bolt upright 
against a tree-trunk, sound asleep. “ Look ! " 
he said. “ Wouldn't he win first honour as a 
sleeper ? " 

Billy grinned. Then, “ Me for a swim," he 
said, and was up and away, Barney following, 
to the river. 

Later, two coloured men appeared, big, husky 
fellows, bringing fresh eggs and a loaf of home- 
made bread. 

“ Hope you-all ain' none de worse fer las' 
night," one of them said, with a laugh that 
showed a set of perfect white teeth. 

Barney grinned as he looked the man over. 
“ Reckon I needn't be ashamed that I couldn't 
get the better of you," he said. “ You've got 
arms like a blacksmith's." 

“ Yes, suh ; that’s w'at I is," the man laughed. 


66 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 

but you shore did keep me hustlin’ to hoi’ yer, 
there’n the dark. You clawed like a wildcat.” 
He touched a long scratch on his face. 

“Arm all right?” Billy was asking the other 
man, who answered: 

“ Jes’ a little stiff, that’s all. My ol’ woman 
sent yer this fresh bread.” 

“ An' yere’s some aigs right outen the nest,” 
the other man added. 

“ Thanks. We’ll have a bully dinner,” the 
boys told them. Then they all went over and 
examined the log walls. 

“ Good an’ hard now. Couldn’t get them logs 
off ’thout usin' crowbars er axes on ’em,” the 
men declared. 

The boys thought so, too. “ But Sunday’s 
the day fer prowlers,” Barney said, “ so we’ll 
stay ’round till towards night. Do you live near 
here ? ” 

“ Jes’ over the hill yondeh,” George answered, 
and Sam added, “ We’ll listen out ter-night, an’ 
ef we hear any ’sturbance over yere, we’ll come 
an’ divestigate it sure.” 

“ Good. Wish you would. And some night 
after we get the house done, we’ll invite you 
over,” Barney said, which promise sent them off 
highly delighted. 

The day passed quietly — a little heavily after 
a while. In the afternoon, Mr. Houston came 
down with the boys, Fred and Dick bringing 
some chocolate cake and plum turnovers which 
the boys greatly appreciated. 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 6T 

We’re livin’ high to-day,” Finnegan said, 
when their visitors had departed. 

Later several groups of men or boys strolled 
through the woods and along the river banks, 
and some stopped to ask questions about the 
log-cabin, but no suspicious characters appeared. 
At sunset the three boys set off for home, stop- 
ping at their troop-hall when they reached the 
city, to post on the bulletin a notice that all was 
well at the country camp. 

But later Jack coaxed his brother to fix up 
an alarm at the cabin. Wilson was interested in 
electrical experiments, and so was Sidney Hart. 

You might have an alarm that would ring at 
Mr. Houston’s,” Jack said. 

'' Oh, Mr. Houston wouldn’t want to be both- 
ered with it,” Wilson returned. 

“ Well then, have it ring at Sara or George’s,” 
Jack suggested. They’d like to have it — and 
like the fun of hunting up the prowlers.” 

That’s more like it,” Wilson replied. We’ll 
see them about it, and maybe we can fix it 
up.” 

Sam and George were found to be more than 
willing to have the alarm in either house. Sam’s 
was nearer the cabin, so it was decided to have 
it there. But,” Wilson said, ‘‘ it will mean 
a lot of work — laying an underground wire all 
that distance.” 

Jack scoffed at that. ‘"Workl” he cried. 

It won’t be much for so many of us. The fel- 
lows will all be glad to help and so make sure 


68 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


that there’ll be no more mischief done when 
we’re not here.” 

There was no trouble about the work — all the 
boys were ready to help. And the plan was 
carried out without delay. 

Each Friday night thereafter, the Scout Mas- 
ter, with as many of the troop as were free on 
Saturday, went out to work on the cabin. Their 
enthusiasm grew with the house. The cabin, 
when completed, was a piece of work of which 
the boys had a right to be proud. There was 
an outside chimney of stone and clay, with a 
big fireplace inside. Mr. Houston had assured 
the boys that they could have all the firewood 
they chose to gather or cut in his woods, and he 
furnished boards for the flooring and other pur- 
poses. 

“ You see, boys,” he told them one day, “ I 
thought I had stumped you when I offered you 
all the logs you wanted from the hollow there. 
I hadn’t an idea that you would consider that 
offer. When you did, I was curious to see if 
you would stick to it and carry the thing 
through. I didn’t believe you would. But you 
passed the test, and I consider that you all de- 
serve special honours for doing so. Anyhow, 
I want the privilege of furnishing all the lum- 
ber you need for inside work.” 

Three cheers for Mr. Houston ! ” somebody 
shouted, and the cheers were given with a will. 

There is only one name for this camp,” Sid- 


NIGHT ADVENTURES 69 

ney Hart exclaimed. ‘‘ I move that we christen 
it Camp Houston.” 

It was so christened on the spot, and one of 
the boys who had considerable skill in burnt- 
wood work, brought out the next week a panel 
on which he had wrought the name in beautiful 
letters ; and this was set over the fireplace. 

The cabin completed, the boys made the furni- 
ture — a table with benches, a few chairs, and a 
bookshelf. They also put up a shelf for a man- 
telpiece, and three for a corner cupboard, and 
built in half a dozen sleeping-bunks for use in 
an emergency. The windows were covered out- 
side with strong wire netting as a protection 
to the glass. 


VI 


TREASURE TROVE 
ROOP 5 was spending a week-end at 



Camp Houston. This was their very 


own, and it had a charm for them that 
no other place had, so most of their hikes began 
or ended at the camp. The Scout Master had 
been thinking this over, and one day he sug- 
gested, Boys, wouldn’t it be a good idea for 
us to learn all we can about this corner of Vir- 
ginia? There was fighting hereabouts in the 
Civil War, and there are still remains of earth- 
works here and there. Since this is our own 
camp, I’d like to know all that there is to be 
known about the neighbourhood, wouldn’t you? ” 
“ It would be a fine way to study history,” 
Sidney Hart agreed, his eyes full of interest. 

The Master went on, I’ve found, at the li- 
brary, some books that will help us, and I think 
we shall all be interested in locating historic 
spots. Probably there are still a few old people 
to be found who lived hereabouts during the 
war, and we may get some first-hand stories from 

them. ” 

Old Moses lived right here in his cabin 

then, ” Sidney said. “ He told me a little about 

70 


TREASURE TROVE 71 

the war one day. I think your plan is fine, Mr. 
Marshall.” 

‘‘What is it, Jack?” the Master inquired. 
“ Did Uncle Moses tell you war stories, too ? ” 

“ Not about the fighting ” — Jack’s face was 
full of eagerness, “ but he told me an awfully 
interesting story about the family he lived with 
then. He said all the men were in the army — 
Confederate, of course — and he was left to look 
after the women and children. And the night 
before his master went away, he and Moses 
buried all their silver — a great lot of it — in the 
woods. Afterwards, the house was burned down 
and part of the woods, and after that, they 
couldn’t find the place where the silver was 
buried — and it never has been found. Oh, Mr. 
Marshall, I wish we could hunt for that silver ! 
Don’t you think we might? Uncle Moses could 
help us locate it.” Jack’s voice was so impres- 
sive, and his eyes so wide and earnest, that he 
held the attention of all the group; but a ripple 
of laughter followed his last words, and two or 
three voices called out : 

“ A treasure hunt. Jack’s hankering for an- 
other treasure hunt.” 

“ Yes, but this would be a real one — and just 
think how fine it would be if we could find that 
silver and send it to the owners. Uncle Moses 
says there are just two old ladies left now, of 
all the family, and they’re awf’ly poor.” 

“ But, Jack,” the Scout Master said in his 
kindest voice, “ Moses and others must have 


72 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 

searched many times for that silver. Probably 
somebody else found it and carried it off long 
ago. Remember it is nearly half a century since 
the war.” 

“ Yes,” Jack admitted, “ but — but we might 
find it, you know. And, anyhow — it would be 

fun to hunt — for real treasure ” He flashed 

a laughing glance at Sidney Hart, recalling an- 
other treasure hunt that Sidney’s father had 
planned. 

“ No harm in hunting, if the kid wants to,” 
Sidney said. “ Fm willing to help. Jack.” 

Jack gave him a grateful smile. 

“ And I.” 

** Me too,” a dozen voices echoed. Jack was 
the troop favourite ; not a boy in it who would 
not do anything he could for Jack Harding. 

The Master looked about the group with a 
twinkle in his eyes. 

Very well, if you all want another treasure 
hunt, I have no objection,” he said. 

“Oh, good!'' Jack jumped up with a happy 
little skip. “To-morrow, Mr. Marshall?” 

“ Yes, to-morrow, if all agree.” 

There was no objection — indeed, the Scout 
Master noted with some amusement that there 
was a very general interest in the plan. 

“ Say — Fll run over and get Uncle Moses to 
come and tell you about it — how they hid it, and 
all,” Jack suggested breathlessly. “ It’s a good 
yarn, and he likes to tell it.” 

“ You bet he does — and adds new trimmings 


TREASURE TROVE 73 

every time he tells it,” Wilson said in a low tone 
to Sidney Hart. 

“ Very well, Jack, you and Burns can go for 
Uncle Moses,” the Scout Master answered, and 
the two went off, Jack’s slender figure dancing 
along beside the heavier and slower one of Billy 
Burns. 

They came back presently with the old darkey 
limping along behind them, vastly delighted at 
the opportunity of repeating his oft-told tale to 
such an interested audience. The boys found a 
box for a seat for the old man, and the firelight 
shone on his dark, wrinkled face under the thick 
white hair, his sunken eyes gleaming beneath 
shaggy, grizzled brows. He told his story well 
— did old Moses — and the boys listened spell- 
bound, and when the tale was told, bombarded 
him with questions. 

It was agreed that he should go with them and 
direct the search, which he was more than willing 
to do when he was assured that, if the treasure 
should be found, it would all be given to the 
original owners. 

So the next morning, as soon as breakfast 
was over and camp duties done, the treasure 
hunt began. The old man led the way to a big 
stretch of woods about half a mile from the 
camp. He showed the boys the site of the old 
mansion, where crumbled brick and stone in the 
grass-grown hollows corroborated his story. 
Then he followed, as nearly as he remembered it, 
the path he and “ 01’ Mahster ” had taken on 


74 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


that long-ago night, carrying the silver between 
them in a basket. They had located the spot 
where they buried it, by a big gum tree and 
three great oaks, but the flames that destroyed 
the mansion had kindled a forest fire that burned 
for days, and when, at last, rains extinguished 
it, the oaks and the gum tree had vanished ; and 
since then, a new forest had sprung up. 

Hum ! It’s the needle in the haystack, sure 
enough,” Sidney Hart said as he looked about. 
“ The stuff might have been buried anywhere 
within a quarter of a mile, so far as old Moses 
knows.” 

Or dug up any time in the last fifty years,” 
Wilson added. 

The old darkey interposed quickly. No, 
suh; no, suh! Ain’ nobody done dug h’it up. 
I done kep’ too close watch fer dat.” 

“ Watched every night for fifty years, I 
s’pose,” snickered Miller in Wilson’s ear. 

“Kid — this is a wild-goose chase,” Wilson 
said, his arm across his young brother’s shoul- 
ders. 

“ Oh, Will, don’t back out ! ” Jack implored. 
“We might find it, you know — and, anyhow, 
with so many of us, it wouldn’t take so awf’ly 
long to dig up all this part of the woods.” 

“Wouldn’t, eh? Wait till you try,” Wilson 
retorted. “ It won’t be easy digging among all 
these roots.” But at that Jack looked so dis- 
appointed that Wilson instantly relented. “ All 
right, kid, pull up the corners of your mouth. 


TREASURE TROVE 


75 


and bring me one of those picks. We’ll give 
the thing a try, to please you.” 

Old Moses had brought over a miscellaneous 
collection of pick-axes and spades and shovels, 
and now the boys set to work, digging at ran- 
dom within the limits marked by the old man. 
He limped from group to group, entertaining the 
boys with war stories which, Wilson declared, 
were manufactured for the occasion; but Jack 
had the utmost faith in them all. 

“ Why, he lived right here all through the 
war. He couldn’t help seeing and hearing things 
about the soldiers — could he, Billy?” Jack said, 
to which Billy answered in noncommittal 
fashion : 

I reckon.” But nobody dug more steadily 
than he. 

At noon they stopped work and ate the lunch 
they had brought with them. By this time, the 
interest and enthusiasm of the boys were wan- 
ing. The digging was hard work, as ach- 
ing backs and blistered hands testified. When 
Miller declared that he didn’t believe that the 
stuff was there, anyhow, he voiced the general 
opinion. But Jack and a few others were still 
unwilling to give up. 

Part of the boys went back to camp after 
lunch, but most of them stayed and continued 
to dig, though with less and less interest and 
zeal as the hours passed, and no discoveries 
rewarded their hard labours. There was a lit- 
tle stir of interest when Miller picked up some 


76 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


stone arrowheads, and when Finnegan unearthed 
a broken pistol — rusty and useless though it was 
— he was regarded with envy. That old pistol 
had a history — perhaps. Every boy in the 
group coveted it. 

But the buried treasure, if there was any, 
remained securely hidden, and old Moses and 
Jack Harding were about equally disappointed. 
There was no happy shine in Jack’s eyes as the 
tired boys trooped back to camp at sunset — no 
radiant smile flashing a quick response when 
any one spoke to him. Billy cast troubled 
glances at the younger boy’s grave face. 

“ Say, Jack, we won’t give it up,” he said in 
a low tone. “ Next time we come, we’ll have 
another try at it — ^you an’ me.” 

Jack brightened a little at that, and slipped 
his hand over BiUy’s arm. “ Oh, will you, 
Billy ? ” he said. “ Somehow I can’t bear to 
think of those poor old ladies never having what 
belongs to them. I don’t suppose really, there is 
much chance now of finding it, but I’d like to try 
again.” 

'' We will — don’t you fret,” Billy replied, and 
was amply rewarded by seeing the shadows dis- 
appear from Jack’s eyes. 

It seemed as if the day’s fruitless search had 
settled, once for all, the question of the buried 
war-treasure, as indeed it had for all but Jack 
and Billy. Billy Burns did so hate to give up 
a thing that he had undertaken, and he hated 
yet more to have Jack Harding disappointed. 


TREASURE TROVE 


77 


So the next time that the troop went to Camp 
Houston to stay over Saturday, Jack and Billy 
planned another search. Jack reluctantly ad- 
mitted that it was rather a hopeless undertaking, 
for how could they two expect to succeed where 
so many had failed? 

“ But we might happen to find the silver, 
Billy — we might just happen to, you know/’ 
Jack said. 

Yes, we might,” Billy agreed gravely, but 
not hopefully. 

They were on their way to the woods, pick 
and spade over their shoulders — over Billy’s 
shoulders rather, for he had insisted upon carry- 
ing both — and Pal was playfully circling about 
them. Pal loved these days with the troop. 

All the morning they searched, digging here 
and there, but always with the same result. In 
the middle of the afternoon Jack suddenly de- 
cided that it was useless to dig any more. 

“ I reckon somebody must have found the 
stuff,” he said disconsolately, or maybe Uncle 
Moses has forgotten what part of the woods it 
was buried in, anyhow. The fire must have 
changed the woods a lot — I mean the new trees 
that grew up after it. I’m tired, Billy, and you 
must be too. Let’s rest a while before we go 
back to camp.” 

They stretched out on the grass and rested for 
a little. 

Billy, it seems good to have you without 
that Duff tagging along as he generally is. How 


78 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


did it happen he didn’t come this time?” Jack 
said after a little silence. 

“ Got an uncle visiting him.” 

‘‘ Huh ! Hope he’ll stay a year,” returned Jack. 
“ Billy, I get real mad at you sometimes when 
you let him tag you all the time so — times when 
I’m wanting you.” 

But you see, kid, nobody wants Duff — that’s 
the trouble. How would you feel if nobody 
wanted you, an* you got left out of everything ? ” 

'' I — that would be pretty tough,” Jack ad- 
mitted frankly, “ but — but you don’t have to be 
with him all the time/* 

Billy repeated his familiar formula, He’s a 
Scout-brother, Jack. Somebody’s got to help 
him make good.” 

“ Oh, I suppose so,” Jack agreed, ** but 

Hark, somebody’s coming! I hear voices.” 

Some of the fellers, I reckon,” said Billy. 

Let’s hide,” Jack suggested gleefully. 

Let’s climb that big old oak — they can’t see us 
up there in the branches.” 

But the voices sounded more faintly, and pres- 
ently were heard no more. 

‘‘ Had our trouble for our pains, didn’t we ? ” 
Jack laughed. They’ve gone on, whoever they 
were, and I’m getting hungry. Come on down.” 

As he spoke, he began to descend, a little 
carelessly. His foot slipped, and as he crashed 
down, the limb on which he landed gave way 
under him, split from the main trunk, and fell 
to the ground. 


TREASURE TROVE 79 

Billy called out anxiously, You all right, 
Jack?’^ 

'' Yes, all right,” Jack returned. I’ve got 
hold of this other limb. But it’s lucky I didn’t 
slip down inside the trunk. I believe it’s hollow 
all the way down.” He broke a piece of bark 
that was hanging loose and dropped it into the 
opening. Then the boys exchanged startled 
glances. 

''Jingo!*' shouted Jack. "'Let’s get down 
quick — quick ! ” 

“ No hurry. Be careful,” Billy warned, but 
already Jack was scrambling hastily to the 
ground, and the next minute Billy was beside 
him there. ^ 

"You heard it?” Jack questioned breath- 
lessly. " It — it sounded as if it struck metal.” 

t" It sure did sound — queer,” Billy admitted. 

" We’ll break open the trunk. It won’t be 
much trouble, it’s so rotten.” Jack ran for the 
pick. 

Billy took it from him and struck the tree- 
trunk a heavy blow. The pick stuck fast in 
the bark, and as he pulled at it, a great piece 
of the trunk fell away, disclosing a cavity big 
enough to hold both boys. It held something 
else — a big basket covered with a piece of sack- 
ing. 

The boys stared at the basket and then at each 
other with incredulous eyes. 

" It isn’t — it couldn’t be That was 

buried/* Jack stammered. 


80 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


Might have been dug up, an’ hid here after- 
wards,” Billy suggested. 

But — but it looks too new — the basket — 
doesn’t it?” Jack cried, too excited to know 
what he was saying. 

“ We’d better look — maybe it’s not silver at 
all. Jack.” 

But it was silver. Under the sacking they 
found a large bag full of silver, big and little 
pieces. There were three gold watches, too, and 
some jewels. Jack was wildly excited. 

“ We’ve found it. We’ve found it, Billy 
Burns — we have! We have! Isn’t it bully f 
Gee! But I’m glad we tried this once more. 
Can we lug it back to camp? Won't the boys be 
surprised ! ” 

“We could, but we might meet somebody 
who’d take it away from us,” said Billy cau- 
tiously. “ Maybe it’s worth a lot, you know. 
Let’s put that big piece of bark back like it was, 
and I’ll stay here an’ keep watch while you run 
back to camp an’ get two of the big fellows — 
or Mr. Marshall — to come back with you,” was 
Billy’s suggestion. 

Jack was the swiftest runner in the troop. 
Without another word he was off, and in a very 
short time was back with Barney Doyle and the 
Scout Master. 

“ Jack tells me that you have found the lost 
treasure,” the Scout Master said. He was rather 
incredulous about the “ find.” 

They lifted out the basket now, and examined 


TREASURE TROVE 81 

its contents more carefully than Jack and Billy 
had done. 

‘‘ It is hidden treasure, sure enough,” the Mas- 
ter admitted, “ but not the war-treasure you 
were hunting for. See — this watch has the date 
1901, and this silver cup is dated 1905. I fancy 
you have discovered some thief’s hiding- 
place.” 

Oh, what a shame ! Then it won’t help those 
old ladies a bit,” Jack lamented. 

I’m afraid not, but some other people may 
have reason to thank you, boys. Do you re- 
member some months ago, there was a series of 
robberies in the city ? I remember reading about 
it in the papers. I shouldn’t wonder if this is 
some of the loot.” 

But why would it be left here? ” Jack ques- 
tioned. 

“ The thief may not have dared to dispose of 
it — or he may have been caught.” 

Well — what shall we do with it ? ” 

“ I think we will ask Mr. Houston to keep it 
till we can communicate with the police. They 
can probably find the owners — or some of them. 
If there was a reward offered, you and Billy 
will get it, of course.” 

“ We don’t want any reward,” said Jack, and 
Billy added, with a laugh, We had the fun of 
finding it.” 

'' You could turn the reward into the troop 
fund,” was Barney’s practical suggestion. 

“ Or maybe, find some way of sending it to 


82 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


those old ladies, Jack,” the Scout Master added ; 
at which Jack brightened. 

The silver was carried to the camp, where the 
rest of the boys looked it over with the liveli- 
est interest, and then it was left in charge of 
Mr. Houston. Jack and Billy were the heroes 
of the day. They had found real ” treasure 
and about the campfire that night they had to 
tell all the details of their discovery, and an- 
swer a score of eager questions. Old Uncle 
Moses was among the most interested of the 
listeners. It was a bitter disappointment to him 
that it was not the silver of the family he loved 
so loyally, but he found consolation of a sort. 

“ You-all done foun’ some fin, anyway,” he 
said, “ en where dere’s some, dere may be more. 
I ain’ giv’ up hopin’ yet.” 

That’s right, old scout. Keep hoping and 
hunting, and I bet you’ll stumble on that treas- 
ure yet.” So Miller encouraged the old man. 

The Scout Master’s surmise proved correct. 
The police found the owners of the silver. The 
reward of one hundred dollars was turned over 
to Jack and Billy, and the Scout Master found 
a way to put it into the hands of the two old 
ladies — which was some consolation to Jack and 
Uncle Moses. 


VII 


TWO GOOD TURNS ” 

‘‘T HARDLY think I need remind you that 
I ‘ Boy Scout week ’ begins to-morrow,” the 
Scout Master said with a smile, at the 
close of the first February meeting of the troop. 
‘‘We want Troop 5 to make a fine showing, and 
I know that every boy belonging to it will do 
his best. As many as possible meet me here to- 
morrow morning at ten-thirty and we will march 
over to the stone Church, where seats will be 
reserved for us.” 

“ At our church — isn't that jolly ! ” Jack 
leaned over to whisper in Billy’s ear. 

The Master went on, “ There will be no hike 
to-morrow, since this will be such a full week, 
but I hope you all will be here for the anniver- 
sary meeting on Monday night. We shall want 
to hear about as many of the ‘ special kindnesses ’ 
as we have time for. And now we must decide 
what shall be our troop ‘good turn.’ Has any 
one a suggestion to make ? ” 

Several suggestions were made by the older 
boys before the Master called on Jack Harding. 

“ You look as if you knew of some particu- 
larly fine ‘turn.’ Do you, Jack?” 

83 


84 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“Yes, sir — I think so, anyhow,'' Jack replied 
eagerly. “ I wish we could go to the children’s 
hospital. There’s a lot of boys there. A few 
of them are Scouts and I reckon they'd all like 
to be." A laugh went around the room at that. 
Jack hurried on, “ Couldn't we march over there 
and give them some music outside, and then go 
through the wards and just shake hands with 
them? I go there sometimes, and they always 
seem to like to see me.” 

“ I should think they would,” was the Master’s 
thought, as he looked into the happy blue eyes. 
Aloud, he said, “ What do you think of Jack’s 
proposal, boys? Any objection?" 

There was no objection. 

“ Anybody prefer one of the other plans pro- 
posed ? " 

“ I don’t think we can improve on Jack’s sug- 
gestion,” Sidney Hart said, and arrangements 
were made to carry it out. 

“ Say, Billy, walk on a little way with me," 
Jack coaxed, slipping his arm through Billy’s as 
they left the troop-hall. “ I want to tell you 
what I’m going to do for my special ‘ good 
turn.’ ’’ 

“ Wish I could, kid," Billy answered, “ but 
Charlie’s waiting for me over there — see ? ” 

Jack flung away with an impatient scowl. 
“ I’m sick of the sight of that Charlie Duff. 
He’s always in the way when I want you. Go 
along with your old Putty Duff then ! ’’ 

Billy hesitated a moment. It was so seldom 


TWO “GOOD TURNS” 85 

that Jack got mad '' like that. He was usu- 
ally so good-natured and thoughtful! 

“ You know rd a heap rather go with you, 
Jack,” Billy protested, “ and — and you know why 
I can’t.” 

“ Don’t either,” Jack snapped, turning his 
back, and he went off without even a good- 
night.” 

Billy looked after him wistfully for a mo- 
ment, then joined Charlie Duff, only to be greeted 
with a gruff, “ Why didn’t you keep me wait- 
ing all night ? ” 

A sharp reply trembled on Billy’s tongue. If 
everybody — even Jack — was in an ugly temper 
to-night, why should he alone keep the peace? 
He opened his mouth, but before the first word 
was spoken, swift steps came behind him and 
Jack’s hand slipped into his. 

Good-night, old Billy Burns. I was a beast 
— forget it, please,” Jack whispered in his ear, 
and was gone. 

‘‘ What ’d he say ? ” Duff demanded sulkily. 

Billy ignored the question. “ What you going 
to do for a ‘ special kindness ’ to-morrow ? ” he 
inquired. 

“ Huh ! How do I know ? Any old thing I 
can think of — likely.” 

What’s the matter, Charlie ? ” Billy asked 
the question in a quiet, friendly tone. 

“ How would you like it yourself to be treated 
like I am?” Charlie burst out. “The fellers 
all give me the cold shoulder. You know your- 


86 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


self they do. None of ’em speak to me if they 
can help it.” 

“ Oh, come, Charlie — you know that ain’t so,” 
Billy remonstrated. 

“ ’Tis so, too. Ain’t one in the troop but you 
ever comes near me.” 

“ Well, I do, so you needn’t take it out on 
me. 

'' You don’t do it because you want to. You 
don’t like me any better than the rest of ’em do 
— you know you don’t, Billy Burns.” 

“Yes, I do, Charlie.” 

“ You don’t either,” Charlie snarled. 

“ Oh, well, if you want to give me the lie ” 

“ I’m sick of it — sick of the old Scout business 
— sick of everything ! ” Charlie flung out, his 
hands in his pockets, his mouth drooping at the 
corners. 

“What makes you so blue to-night?” Billy 
asked. “ Anything special ? ” 

Charlie did not answer. When he spoke 
again it was to say, “I’ve ’bout made up my 
mind to drop out of the troop, anyhow.” 

“ Oh, no, Charlie ! Billy flung an arm across 
the other boy’s shoulders. “ Don’t say that.” 

“ It’s no use,” Charlie went on drearily. “ I’m 
tired an’ sick of digging the way you want me 
to. What’ll it all amount to, anyhow ? ” 

“ Lots,” Billy answered quickly. “ It would 
be a shame to give up now when you’ve worked 
so hard all these weeks. You’re sure to win 
honours if you keep at it a little longer — sure. 


TWO ‘‘GOOD TURNS” 


87 


And, listen — I heard Sidney Hart say that the 
president is going to give the honours next time. 
It would be fine to get yours from him, would- 
n’t it?” 

Duff manifested but a languid interest. 
“ Huh, I don’t know as I’d care much,” he an- 
swered. 

“ You’re way ahead of the rest of us in bird- 
study — unless, maybe Miller — an’ I know you’ll 
w'in honours for that; an’ if you’ll dig a bit 
harder for a while you’ll get others. It’d be a 
shame to give up now when you’ve almost won,” 
Billy urged. 

‘‘ Aw — well,” Charlie yielded, “ I s’pose I can 

hang on a while longer, but ” 

That’s a good fellow,” Billy said heartily. 

If I knew as much about birds as you do. I’d 
stick to it till I knew every bird in Maryland and 
Virginia. You know a lot more of ’em than I do 
a’ready.” 

“ Huh — birds ! ” grumbled Charlie. “ You 
beat ’em all in first aid — ^you know you do, an’ 
in physical development, too.” 

‘‘ Oh, that,” returned Billy. I had to learn 

them — those, I mean — ’c^iuse ” 

’Cause what ? ” Charlie’s curiosity was 
stirred by Billy’s abrupt pause. 

Billy coloured — ^he had not meant to tell 
Charlie Duff the hope that was growing in the 
depths of his soul. He had not told that even 
to Jack. Only the Scout Master had guessed 
it. 


88 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“ 'Cause what ? ” Charlie persisted obsti- 
nately. 

What you going to work at when you grow 
up ? ” Billy asked. 

“I d’know. Fm askin' you — 'cause what?" 
Charlie repeated. 

“ Well," Billy felt the hot colour in his cheeks 
and was glad that the darkness hid it from his 
companion. “ Well, you see. I'd like to be a 
doctor. Maybe I never can be, of course, but 
that’s what I’d like best. That’s why I’ve got 
my honours in first aid — seem’s like that kind o' 
thing comes easy to me.” 

“You a doctor — rats!'* Charlie shouted with 
laughter at the idea. 

In the darkness Billy shrank away from him, 
muttering, “ I was a fool to tell you that." 

“What’d you say?” 

“No matter ! " returned Billy shortly. 

“ Needn’t get huffy." 

“ I ain't huffy." 

“ Sounds mighty like it," retorted Charlie. He 
felt better now that he had wormed Billy’s 
secret out of him. He would pass it round 
among the fellows, and some of them would 
plague the life out of Billy. Charlie chuckled 
over the idea. 

In many churches the next day seats were re- 
served for the Scouts, and some of the pastors 
spoke especially to them, and of their organisa- 
tion and its work. 

On Monday as many of the boys as were free 


TWO “ GOOD TURNS ” 


89 


went to the Children’s Hospital. At the first 
notes of the bugle call, the front windows of the 
long building were crowded with young faces — 
— thin white faces, most of them — some hag- 
gard and lined with pain. There were girls as 
well as boys at the windows, and all the faces 
brightened, and tired eyes smiled as the drum 
and bugle corps played. Finally the superin- 
tendent, standing in the doorway, said, “ The 
children are asking for ^ Dixie.’ They like that 
best of all.” 

So the corps played the gay, rollicking tune, 
and the children laughed and clapped their 
hands, some joining in the chorus. 

Then the boys went in, for, as Jack explained. 

Some can’t get out of bed, you know ” — and 
passed from cot to cot in the long, sunny rooms, 
answering countless questions. At one cot, 
every Scout looked down with grave eyes and a 
dumb, aching sympathy. The little creature on 
that cot, with his great, sorrowful eyes, his blue- 
white skin, and hands like bird-claws — was a 
boy like them, but a boy who had been starved 
and neglected and beaten by his own parents — so 
the nurse told them. He was too weak and ill to 
speak, and there was no interest in his hollow 
eyes until Billy Bums looked, down at him and 
took one of the claw-like hands in his two big 
and warm and strong ones. It almost seemed 
as if Billy breathed some of his own strength 
and vitality into this pitiful little brother,” for, 
after a moment, the bony fingers clung weakly 


90 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


to Billy’s and the pale shadow of a smile wav- 
ered across the pallid lips. That was all, but 
the nurse looked delighted. 

“ That’s the first sign of interest he has shown 
in any one or anything since he was brought 
here,” she whispered in Billy’s ear. ‘‘ I wish 
you’d come again.” 

“ I will,” Billy promised. 

Jack had given one glance at this cot and 
turned quickly away. I couldn’t help him, and 
I was afraid I’d cry,” he said quite simply to 
Billy as they left the hospital. “ I didn’t sup- 
pose any boy could look like that — and live.” 

They were all very sober when they left the 
hospital, until Don Frazer reminded them of the 
other children. “ They sure did enjoy ‘ Dixie.’ 
The nurse said some of them danced to the 
music,” he said. 

‘‘ Look here, boys,” Jack Harding cried out. 

I — I can’t get that poor little kid’s face out 
of my mind. I want to show you all another 
chap — ^not like that one. He’s over at the In- 
curables. He won’t make you choke up inside. 
He’s the bravest fellow I know, and it would 
please him awf’ly to see us all and have us play 
and sing a bit to him. Will you go — with me ? ” 

“ Oh, I say, we’ve done our troop ‘ kindness ’ 
— one’s enough,” Miller protested. 

Take so long to go over to the Incurables ! ” 
Carter objected with a scowl. 

'' Not so very long,” Don Frazer said, seeing 
the shadow of disappointment on Jack’s face. 


TWO « GOOD TURNS ” 91 

No longer for the rest of us than for Jack. 
He goes there often/’ added Billy. 

“ I’m not going,” Charlie Duff declared, stop- 
ping short on a comer. 

I’ll go. Jack,” Billy said quietly, and Don 
Frazer added, ‘‘ So will I.” 

The other boys hesitated for a moment, then 
fell into line behind these three, leaving Charlie 
sulking alone on the corner. Jack swung along, 
his eyes once more sunny and happy, talking of 
the boy they were going to see. 

He’s just about my age — most fourteen — 
and I think he ought to have a hero medal for 
bravery. Last summer he was as well and strong 
as any of us. Then he was run over by an auto, 
and now the doctors say he never can walk 
again. He gets around in a wheel-chair, and 
he’s just as bright and jolly — never says a word 
about himself if he can help it; but he’s just 
hungry to see other boys and hear ’em tell what 
fun they have. You’d think that would make 
him glum, wouldn’t you? But it doesn’t. You 
just ought to have seen him when I told him 
about our building the log-house, and our treas- 
ure hunts and everything.” 

“What’s his name, kid?” asked Frazer. 

“ Grant Wilmer.” 

“ Hasn’t he any folks ? ” 

“ Just a father — no mother, and no brothers 
or sisters. His father is a government clerk. 
He’s ” — Jack’s happy voice wavered a moment 
as he went on — “ he’s learning all we Scouts 


92 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


learn as fast as he can — Grant is. Mr. Marshall 
has been over two or three times to see him. 
He thinks the Master is the finest ever ! " 

So Jack rattled on till they came to the hos- 
pital. Some of the boys half wished they had 
not come, now that they were there. The hol- 
low eyes and cheeks of the little creature they 
had just seen were still so fresh in their minds ! 
But Jack led the way, and they could not back 
out now, so they all followed. 

‘‘Hello, Grant,’^ and “Oh, hello, Jack!^* 

They heard the quick, glad interchange of 
greetings, and then Jack was proudly introduc- 
ing his “ hero ” to his troop. No hollow eyes 
nor thin cheeks here. Grant Wilmer’s brown 
eyes were shining with pleasure, and his cheeks 
were flushed with joyful excitement. He sat 
in a wheel-chair, a rug covering his helpless 
limbs, and greeted his visitors with a smile as 
joyous as Jack’s. 

“ Oh, this is great! It’s — it’s bully of you all 
to come and see me. You must be Miller and 
I’m sure you* re Billy Burns.” He grasped a 
hand of each. “ The rest of you I’m not sure 
of, though I know the name of every Scout in 
Troop 5.” 

“ Now, I wonder how that happens ? ” re- 
marked Miller drily, with a passing glance at 
Jack, and they all laughed. 

“ The way Jack brags about you all ! ” Grant 
added. “ He thinks there never was a troop like 
Troop 5.” 


TWO ‘‘GOOD TURNS” 


93 


No ‘ think ’ about it — I know Troop 5 beats 
the band ! ” Jack retorted gaily. “ Say, Tubby, 
give Grant a lesson in signalling, won’t you ? ” 

Miller looked around gravely. “ Don’t see any 
flags,” he said. 

Jack plunged a hand into Miller’s pocket and 
brought out two red and white flags. “ Knew 
he had ’em. He sleeps with ’em under his pil- 
low in case he should want to signal in his 
dreams,” Jack laughed. 

Not even Jack himself was ever more intensely 
interested in all that pertains to scouting than 
was this boy who never could hope to share its 
delights. 

“ Tell me some more — oh, come on, tell more,” 
he begged as, gathered close about his chair, 
one after another told of some camp happen- 
ing. 

“ Say, haven’t some of you chaps a camera? ” 

Don had one, and Miller and Carter. 

Grant looked at them with pleading in his 
brown eyes. “ Then you must have Scout pic- 
tures — heaps of them. I’d like mighty well to 
see some of them. Got any of that log-cabin?” 

“ Sure,” Miller told him. “ I’ll bring some 
over next time I come.” 

'' Next time ! ” Grant looked at him with 
shining eyes. “ So there’s going to be a next 
time ? Say, make it soon, won’t you ? But no — 
I won’t ask that. Come any old time if you’ll 
only come. This is anniversary week, isn’t it? 
What’s the ‘ troop good turn ’ ? ” 


94f BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


The fun and laughter died swiftly out of the 
faces of the Scouts, and there was a moment’s 
silence before Frazer said gravely, We — we 
went to the Children’s Hospital and played for 
em. 

Grant’s eyes flashed over the drums and 
bugles. “ Gee, they must have liked that — ^poor 
little chaps,” he said. 

“ Yes,” Don answered soberly, “ they did — 
most of them,” and then in a very few words he 
told of the one who had too little life in him to 
enjoy anything. 

Grant’s eyes filled. ‘^George! That’s hard 
lines,” he muttered; then flashed a smile as 
bright as any of Jack’s about the group. That 
was a splendid troop ‘ kindness ’ — and here you 
are doing another one. Troop 5 ought to take 
Anniversary Day honours — if you ask me ! ” 

“ Ho ! ” laughed Jack. “ It isn’t a ‘ kindness ’ 
to come and see you. It’s just good fun, isn’t 
it, boys ? ” 

The best kind,” two or three voices de- 
clared. 

Grant smiled back at them; then he pulled 
out a copy of Boys’ Life,” and turned to the 

Lonesome Corner.” 

That’s my 'good turn’ for Anniversary 
Day,” he told them blithely. " Read that letter? 
It’s from a little fellow that lives way up on a 
mountain in New England. He’s wild to be a 
Scout, but can’t, because he’s too lame to get up 
and down the long mountain trail. Too bad, 


TWO “GOOD TURNS” 


95 


isn’t it — and he such a bright chap — must be, 
or he couldn’t write such a fine letter. I’ve 
been writing to him to-day. Of course he won’t 
care half as much for my letter as he would if I 
were a Scout, but I’ve told him some of the 
things Jack had told me about you all, an’ I bet 
he’ll like that. Say — when I was lying awake 
last night, I thought maybe, after I’ve learned 
a lot more of the scouting — what Scouts have 
to learn and do, I mean — I thought maybe, we 
might get up a shut-in troop — all the members 
to write each other regularly as a troop duty 
since they can’t do the outdoor things — and keep 
each other posted on all the Scout events. What 
do you think? Would it work? Suppose I 
could possibly start the thing, and keep it go- 
ing?” 

“ I think it’s a splendid idea,” Jack cried out, 
“ splendid. Grant.” 

The other boys thought so, too. They talked 
it over, making various suggestions, most of 
which prant eagerly accepted. 

“ I’ll supply you with as many photos as I can 
— Scout photos,” Miller promised, and Don 
added : 

“ I, too; and I’ll get some from others in our 
troop that have cameras. You might pass ’em 
along, you know.” 

Then Don sprang up. “ That’s five o’clock. 
We’ve been here over an hour ! ” he exclaimed. 

“ Seems ’bout ten minutes,” Grant said, and 
he added earnestly, “ It’s been the happiest hour 


96 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


I’ve had since — since I’ve been here. Well, I 
won’t beg you to stay, nor even to come again, 
but if any of you do come, you’d better believe 
you’ll be welcome.” 

They all promised to come again. 

“If you — if you don’t mind pushing this 
limousine of mine out on the piazza, I can see 
you a bit longer — as you march down the street,” 
Grant said. 

They wheeled him out on the big piazza. 
Then Jack whispered to Don : 

“ Wait just a minute,” and ran back into the 
house. He came out again, his eyes shining as 
they always did when he was planning an espe- 
cially delightful “ turn ” for somebody. 

“ Can’t we stop and play a bit for Grant ? 
He’d like it so ! ” he whispered again to Don. 
“ I asked, and they said it wouldn’t trouble any 
of the sick people here.” 

Don nodded and passed the word along, and 
the boys, having bade Grant good-bye and 
started off in fine marching order, suddenly 
wheeled and, facing him, gave the bugle calls 
of the camp; then two of their favourite songs. 

Grant’s face flushed and paled and flushed 
again, and when they ended with “ taps,” sa- 
luted, and then swung off down the street. Grant 
clapped until his hands smarted. 

“ Isn’t he one of the finest ever? ” Jack cried 
as he turned to wave his hand as they reached 
the comer. 

“ He’s a hero for true,” Billy said. “ Nothin’ 


TWO “ GOOD TURNS ” 97 

a fellow could do would be so hard as sitting 
there not doing — anything 

“ And no hope of anything else,” Miller added, 
couldn't take it with a laugh as he does.” 

“ He made me forget all about it,” added Car- 
ter. “ Honest, I did forget it while he was buzz- 
ing questions at us a mile a minute. He’s plucky 
all right.” 

Suddenly Miller turned and shook his fist 
in Jack Harding’s face. 

“ See here, kid — don’t you wheedle us into 
visiting any more of your shut-ins. If you do 
we sha’n’t have time to eat, and I’m so hungry 
this minute that I could eat a porcupine, quills 
and all — raw!” he said. 

That was the beginning of happy days for 
Grant Wilmer. Jack went on his wheel to see 
him every week, and Billy went as often as he 
could get the time, which was not very often, 
since he was still labouring with Charlie Duff. 
The other boys went occasionally, and they all 
became good friends with the brave little fellow 
whose cheerful acceptance of the hard condi- 
tions of his life made them ashamed oftentimes, 
of their own fault-finding over small trials. 

But this Anniversary week was crowded to 
the limit. On Monday evening every member of 
Troop 5 was in his place in their assembly hall, 
all eyes watching the clock. As the hands 
pointed to eight-fifteen the boys were on their 
feet, standing at attention. They gave the Scout 
salute, and then together repeated the Scout 


98 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


oath. A moment of utter silence followed, and 
every boy had a swift vision of the thousands 
of Boy Scouts of America, all joining with 
them in this expression of loyalty to Scout 
ideals. 

Greetings from the Chief Scout were read, 
and reports given of the troop “ good turn,” for 
the benefit of those who were unable to take part 
in it, and of the special anniversary “ kindness ” 
of individual boys. Those who had been at the 
Incurables gave an enthusiastic account of Grant 
Wilmer which aroused general interest in the 
troop — an interest that deepened as they heard 
of Grant’s plan for a Shut-in Troop. That 
touched the generous hearts under the khaki. A 
shut-in troop — missing the fun of hikes and 
camping and all the good out-of-doors life — lack- 
ing the vigorous life itself that sent the blood 
tingling to their finger-tips as they tramped and 
worked and frolicked! 

I reckon it’s up to this troop to help out that 
chap,” one boy said, and at that Don Frazer 
spoke quickly. 

“ I move that we appoint a committee to have 
charge of that and keep us all up to time — I 
mean, to plan it out, giving each fellow in the 
troop something to do for that shut-in troop, 
and to keep after us and see that nobody forgets 
pr neglects his particular job. We don’t any of 
us mean to forget or shirk, of course, but there 
are so many things to think of I ” 

This proposal met the approval of the troop. 


TWO « GOOD TURNS ” 99 

and the committee was appointed, with Don as 
chairman. 

“ That’s more than I bargained for,” he grum- 
bled, but I’ll do the best I can.” 

Thursday was the great day of the week for 
the Washington Scouts. On that day ther^was 
a meeting of the National Council, and a recep- 
tion by the President at the White House, where 
Eagle badges were awarded to six boys. The 
Eagle badge marks the highest rank a Scout can 
attain. Two boys only in Troop 5 were so hon- 
oured — Sidney Hart and Don Frazer — but a 
number of boys in the troop were working hard 
for this honour, among them Billy Burns and 
Jack Harding, both of whom hoped to receive 
it on the next anniversary. 

In the evening came the great rally at Con- 
vention Hall. The immense auditorium was 
hung with flags and troop banners. The plat- 
form for the speakers was at one side, and seats 
for the audience were so arranged as to leave 
all the centre of the hall for the boys. For 
weeks they had been drilling for this great occa- 
sion, and now an endless procession of boys in 
khaki poured into the hall — from little fellows 
who looked no more than ten, though they must 
have been twelve — to big brawny chaps like Bar- 
ney and Nolan. Some had the right sleeve half 
covered with badges and medals. Drum and 
bugle corps were much in evidence. 

There were skill tests of all sorts, from tying 
the various knots to scaling rope and pole work, 


100 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


tower work, and human pyramids. There were 
semaphore drills and setting-up drills, and races, 
including an equipment race, first aid demon- 
strations with bandages and stretcher drills, 
€tc. 

Then came troop ‘‘ stunts.” A suburban vol- 
unteer fire troop gave a drill, the bicycle corps 
a demonstration, and one troop formed a human 
compass. The boys of Troop 5 appeared with 
a bundle of long, slender poles which they bound 
together with ropes and smaller poles, spreading 
them out, wigwam-fashion at the bottom. Jack 
Harding, who could climb like a monkey, went 
up one of the slender poles, and bound them all 
securely together where they crossed, about a 
third from the top. Dropping one end of a 
string, another boy tied to it a bit of board 
half a yard long. Jack drew it up and secured 
it between the ends of the long poles, and 
stepped lightly up on it. Again he lowered the 
string and a flag was tied to it. That Jack 
lashed to one of the poles, and under it the troop 
flag. He looked a gallant little figure as he stood 
€rect on that slight support high above the floor, 
the flags over his head. As a burst of applause 
greeted him, he began swiftly untying the 
ropes, and before the applause died out, he was 
sliding down to the floor. 

After that there was an address by Dan Beard, 
and then the great day was over, and the streets 
around Convention Hall thronged with Boy 
Scouts and their friends. Charlie Duff as usual, 


TWO « GOOD TURNS ” 


101 


was close beside Billy as they left the hall. 
Half a dozen boys were talking at once about 
the stunts and exhibitions. Billy, as was his 
wont, said little, but lent a ready ear to those 
who wanted to talk. Charlie was grumbling be- 
cause some other troops had won more applause 
than Troop 5. 

“ We did better than half the others,’^ he 
said, “ but they didn’t clap us — only just when 
Jack Harding got up there with the flags. That 
wasn’t much. I could have done that as well as 
he did, but everything that Harding does — 
goes.” 

“ I couldn’t have done that — I’m too heavy 
and slow,” Billy replied. 

“Oh, you!’' Charlie’s tone was scornful; 
“ you don’t need to do much — ^you’re sure to 
get the honours, anyhow.” 

“ What d’ye mean by that. Duff ? ” Barney 
demanded, overhearing the words. 

“ I mean,” Charlie glanced over his shoulder 
to see who was within hearing, “ that Billy can 
get honours without any extra work. Scout Mas- 
ter’ll see to that. Ouch! Le’ me ’lone, Barney 
Doyle.” For Barney had seized Duff’s ear and 
given it a vicious tweak, and Barney’s voice 
spoke low in that same ear. “ You’re a liar an’ 
you know it. Duff. Billy gets what he earns an’ 
no more, same’s the rest of us do. An’ listen to 
me, Duff — you’re findin’ too much fault with 
things lately — too much fer your own good. 
You’re a quitter — that’s what you are — an^ 


102 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


there’s no place in Troop 5 for a quitter. Now, 
put that in your pipe an’ smoke it. If I hear 
any more snarling out of you, you’ll wish I 
hadn’t, that’s all. Come back here, Billy, I’ve 
got something to say to you. Come on.” 

Billy hesitated, then joined Barney. “ He’ll 
get mad an’ leave the troop, Barney,” he said in 
a low tone. 

“ An’ a good thing fer the troop if he does,” 
retorted Barney. “ I tell ye he’s no good. 
You’re wastin’ time tryin’ to pull him up, Billy.” 

Billy sighed. “ I d’know what ails him lately. 
He didn’t use to be so grouchy.” 

Let me catch him at it again — that’s all ! ” 
Barney growled. “ He’s the limit.” 

“If he drops out of the troop he’ll go all to 
pieces,” Billy protested. “ You know that, Bar- 
ney — and he’s got on a lot lately. He ought to 
get some honours at the next examination.” 

“ Huh — honours ! It’s you he’ll have to thank 
if he does,” Barney answered ; “ an’ he won’t 
thank you, either. He’ll jest swagger ’round an’ 
act as if he’d done it all himself.” 

“ Oh, well, what if he does ? I don’t care, so 
long as he wins. Don’t you see, Barney,” Billy’s 
voice was very earnest, “ he’s a brother, even if 
he is a — a ” 

“ Yes, ‘ a — a,’ ” Barney mocked, “ a quitter an’ 
a skulker — that’s what he is. Brother or no 
brother. I’d like to kick him out of this troop 
if fer nothin’ else, jest fer the way he treats 
you.” 


TWO « GOOD TURNS ” 


103 


Billy laughed and rubbed his shoulder against 
Barney’s broad one. As if I cared how he 
treats me ! Y ou'll never go back on me, Barney. 
What do I care if a chap like him does? And 
besides, I’m sorry for him. Nobody likes him 
an’ he knows it — that’s what sours him.”’ 

'' It’s his own fault,” Barney returned. You 
can’t make me sorry for Putty Duff. He’s 
worse than Slater an’ Jones, if you ask me, fer 
I don’t believe they would go back on a friend, 
the way Duff goes back on you.” 

Billy passed that by. “ Seen ’em lately — them 
two ? ” 

Barney shook his head. They’ll take good 
care to keep out o’ my sight unless they’re hunt- 
in’ fer trouble,” he said shortly. 


VIII 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 

J ACK HARDING knocked at the Scout 
Master’s door one evening in late Febru- 
ary, and entering, straightway told his 
errand. 

“ I want to find some place for a troop of 6oy 
Scouts to stay Inauguration week. Father says 
every boarding- and rooming-house will be 
packed, and the boys better stay at home. But 
they’ll be so awf’ly disappointed if they have to 
do that!” 

'' Who are the boys ? How did you hear about 
them. Jack ? ” 

“ Why, I met one of them — Jimmy Hunter, 
his name is — up in the mountains last summer. 
You know, we have a summer cottage in Jack- 
son, New Hampshire, and Jimmy’s aunt lives 
up there, and he was staying with her. He’s a 
Teal nice boy. I liked him first-rate. ’Course I 
told him all about our troop, and he said he 
was going to join the Scouts when he went 
home, and he did. He’d set his heart on com- 
ing here to Washington for the Inauguration, 
and he got the rest of his troop interested, and 
they’ve been working and saving up all winter. 
And now, at the last minute, they’ve heard that 
104 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 105 


they can’t possibly find quarters here — that 
every house is engaged full up, with cots in the 
halls and everywhere, and they’re desperately 
disappointed ! ” Jack ended, his face as serious 
as if he himself were one of the desperately dis- 
appointed ones. He added in a little coaxing 
way he had, “ Wouldn’t it be a fine Scout kind- 
ness, Mr. Marshall, to help them — when they’ve 
worked so hard to earn their money ? ” 

“ It would. Jack,” the Scout Master agreed, 
‘‘ but I really do not see how it is to be done. 
Probably all the rooms are engaged, for an un- 
usually large crowd of strangers is expected this 
year.” 

I know,” Jack agreed sorrowfully, “ because 
this will be the first Democratic inauguration 
for years, so all the Democrats want to come and 
see their President go in. I don’t blame them, 
but I do wish that we could help those boys. I 
just can’t bear to write Jimmy that there is no 
place for them. Seems as if twenty-four boys 
might be squeezed in .somewhere, doesn’t it ? ” 

“ It does — but, you see, they would want to 
be together, and twenty-four is a large num- 
ber for one house.” 

‘‘ Seems as if they might let them camp in the 
schoolhouses or — or the churches, doesn’t it? 
Oh, I’ve got an idea — I have! I’ll come back 
and tell you if it works,” and with a swift salute 
and a beaming smile. Jack was gone. 

Boarding a street-car, he was presently ring- 
ing a door-bell, and then waiting in a large. 


106 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


pleasant, book-lined room before an open fire. 
But he paid no attention to his surroundings that 
night. His ears were strained for approaching 
footsteps, and when he heard them, he flew to 
meet his pastor. 

“ Oh, Dr. Wright, I’m so glad you were in! ” 
he cried. “ I’ve come to ask a very special 
favour. You won't say ‘no,’ will you?” 

“ Not if I can help it. Jack,” the minister an- 
swered, with the look in his eyes that Jack met 
so often in the eyes of his friends. 

“ It’s — it’s — I’m afraid you’ll think it’s a funny 
thing to ask, and maybe you can’t do it,” Jack 
said with an anxious look. “ When I first 
thought of it, it seemed as if it was just the 
right thing, but — but I’m not so sure now.” 

“ Suppose you tell me all about it and we’ll 
see what can be done,” the minister said, draw- 
ing his chair and Jack’s close together before 
the fire. 

So Jack, his blue eyes shining and his cheeks 
flushed with excitement, told again the story of 
Jimmy Hunter and his comrades, and the bitter 
disappointment that seemed unavoidable. 

“Too bad, too bad!” Dr. Wright sai4. 
“ Boys who want so much to come ought to 
have the chance, but I don’t see how I can help 
in this matter. What is the ‘ funny ’ thing you 
wanted to ask of me. Jack?” 

Jack tipped his head with a sidewise, upward 
glance at once doubtful and imploring. “ Why, 
I just thought of all the churches — so big and 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 107 


empty — all except on Sunday — and I wondered 
if one of them couldn’t be used for these boys. 
Oh, Dr. Wright — couldn't ours?" 

The great question was out. Jack, half- 
abashed at his own daring, waited breathlessly, 
as he watched his pastor’s face. 

At any rate, the minister did not say ‘‘ no ” 
straight off. He looked surprised — even a bit 
startled, at first — then he sat staring at the fire 
and thinking. Jack almost held his breath now, 
for hope was growing in his heart. Maybe — 
oh, maybe — the minister would say yes.” 

He didn’t, but neither did he say “ no.” He 
said, “ Wait a minute. Jack,” and went to the 
telephone in the next room. In a few minutes 
he came back and sat down again, smiling into 
the boy’s eager eyes. 

“ I’m not sure. Jack, that we can do what 
you ask. I’ve ’phoned for Mr. Calton, and 
he’ll be here presently. We’ll talk it over with 
him and see if he thinks it possible. You see, it 
would mean extra work for him, and we don’t 
like to put extra work on him — he has enough 
to do, anyway.” 

“ Yes, and he’s such a nice man ! I like Mr. 
Calton.” The people whom Jack “ liked ” were 
legion. 

The minister kept the boy interested until the 
engineer appeared. Then he said, Jack has a 
proposition to make to us, Calton. I’ll let him 
tell his own story,” and, for the third time Jack 
told it, and for the third time anxiously awaited 


108 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


an answer. Mr. Calton considered the matter 
even longer than Dr. Wright had done. Finally 
he said to the minister: 

“ Of course, sir, it isn’t for me to decide this.” 

“ No, but since it might make extra work for 
you — probably would — I wanted to know first 
how you would feel about it.” 

Mr. Calton looked at Jack — met the imploring 
gaze of the blue eyes, and yielded to their plead- 
ing. 

''If they are nice boys, who would be quiet 
and orderly ” he began. 

"They are Scouts!*’ said Jack, as if to be a 
Scout meant to possess all the virtues and none 
of the faults of ordinary boys. 

The minister’s eyes twinkled. " Since they 
are Scouts, then. Jack, you would hold yourself 
responsible for their good behaviour ? ” 

"Why, of course!” Jack replied instantly. 
" And I’m sure, if they should hurt anything — 
damage anything in the church — my father 
would pay for it, though,” he hastened to add, 
" you know I haven’t said a word to him about 
this. I never even thought of using our church 
for the boys before I left home. It’s my own 
idea, not father’s at all” He was anxious to 
assume the whole responsibility. 

" I quite understand that, Jack.” 

" And maybe father wouldn’t like it,” the 
boy added. 

" Maybe not. We shall have to let the trus- 
tees of the church decide the question of course. 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 109 


and your father will have an opportunity to vote 
against it — and you — if he so pleases/^ Dr. 
Wright said; but he did not look as if he 
anticipated any such action on the part 
of Mr. Harding. He turned again to Mr. 
Calton. 

“ The cushions from the pews could be laid on 
the chapel floor and would answer for mat- 
tresses. And for bedding ” 

The boys will bring their blankets, you 
know,’" Jack interposed. 

“ Of course. I forgot that. Then I see no 
reason why we should not send the boys an in- 
vitation from the church. I will vote for it 
gladly. Jack.” 

Oh, thank you, thank you, doctor ! ” Jack 
cried, his face all aglow with unselfish delight, 
“ and thank you, Mr. Calton. If there is any 
extra work on account of the boys. I’ll help you 
— I and some others from Troop 5. Oh, I’m so 
glad I can hardly wait to write to Jimmy Hunter. 
That troop will vote for you when you’re up for 
president. Dr. Wright,” he added with a gay 
little laugh, “ and so will Troop 5. I’ll see that 
all the Scouts in this city know how nice you’ve 
been about it, and I’ll be just proud if our 
church does such a splendid thing! How soon 
can I know — about the vote of the trustees, I 
mean ? ” 

I’ll call a meeting to-morrow evening, and 
your father will let you know the result.” 

'' We-ell — I suppose I can wait, but it will 


110 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


seem just ages till I know — and can write to 
Jimmy Hunter,’^ Jack said. 

“ A fine little chap, that,’' Mr. Calton de- 
clared when Jack was gone. 

“ Indeed, he is. I couldn’t bear to refuse him, 
and really, Calton, I see no reason why our 
church should not open its doors in this fashion. 
Probably other churches would have done the 
same if it had been suggested to them.” 

''If they had had a Jack Harding to think of 
it,” added the other. 

The hours of the next day seemed to Jack 
Harding twice as long as hours usually were. 
He did not say a word of the matter to his 
father, though it required superhuman self-con- 
trol not to do so, when, at the dinner table, Mr. 
Harding mentioned a special meeting of the 
trustees at Dr. Wright’s. Jack hoped that that 
meeting would be a brief one. He began a let- 
ter to Jimmy Hunter, but gave it up. It was 
impossible to write about anything but the In- 
auguration, and impossible to write about that 
until he knew. At nine o’clock the ’phone rang, 
and Mrs. Harding, answering it, said, " Jack, 
some one is calling you. It sounds like Dr. 
Wright’s voice.” 

Jack seemed to reach the ’phone in two steps. 
In a moment his mother heard his voice ring out 
happily. 

" Oh, thank you — thank you. Dr. Wright, and 
please thank the trustees, too, for me — all of 
them!” 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 111 


“What in the world is it all about, Jack?’' 
his mother asked, and then Jack poured out his 
story again. He made it shorter this time, for 
that letter to Jimmy Hunter must be written 
and posted before he slept. 

Jack was not more fond of letter- writing 
than are most boys, but this time his pen fairly 
raced over the paper as he told the good news, 
and sent the cordial invitation of the church to 
Troop 19 of Germantown, Pa. 

Later Jack had a talk with Mr. Calton about 
the arrangements for the troop in the chapel, to 
make certain that nothing was forgotten. He 
had written Jimmy Hunter that he — Jack — had 
made himself responsible for the good behaviour 
of the visitors. “ But I knew that that would 
be all right, because Scouts would be all right, 
anyhow,’*’ he had added. Jimmy read that let- 
ter to Troop 19, and the trooj^ to a boy, pledged 
itself to do honour to Jack’s trust in them. 

Jack was at the big station when the boys 
arrived two days before the Inauguration — Jack 
and as many of Troop 5 as could be there — to 
welcome the visitors, and escort them to the 
church. Troop 5 was very proud of Jack Hard- 
ing for having managed this matter so well. It 
was not the first time that the troop had been 
proud of its youngest member; and it now con- 
sidered these Germantown Scouts as its own 
special guests during the five days of their stay. 

Mr. Calton was at the chapel when the boys 
reached it, and they were shown the arrange- 


112 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


ments that had been made there for their com- 
fort, and told just what they had to do and 
when they were to be back — before they started 
out sight-seeing under the guidance of some of 
Troop 5. If there was anything worth seeing 
that those boys did not see in Washington, it 
was not the fault of the Scouts of Troop 5. But 
for the Washington Scouts, the great day — the 
day that was simply crammed with excitement 
for them — was not the Inauguration Day, but 
the one before it. 

The third of March had been selected by the 
suffragists for a great spectacular parade over 
the historic Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capi- 
tol to the Treasury building. Most elaborate 
preparations had been made for this parade by 
the women interested, and the costumes to be 
worn, though simple, were beautiful, and would 
have been most effective, had the affair been car- 
ried out as proposed. Always at Inauguration 
times, Washington is crowded with strangers, 
but on this occasion innumerable toughs and 
hoodlums poured in from other cities, and 
thronged the streets. Strong ropes were 
stretched on either side the street, between the 
Capitol and the White House, to keep people 
on the sidewalks from pressing forward and in- 
terfering with the parade, and policemen were 
stationed at intervals to preserve order. The 
Boy Scouts of the city, also, were on hand, alert 
for any opportunity to “ do a kindness,'' and 
along with Troop 5 were the twenty-four boys 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 113 


from Germantown. It was not expected that 
the Scouts would have any serious work to do, as 
the women had asked for special police protec- 
tion during their parade. Whether somebody 
blundered, or whether somebody'* in authority 
was unfriendly to the suffragists, certain it is 
that adequate police protection was lacking. 
Just before the procession started, Mr. Wilson 
arrived at Union Station, and a body of police 
met and escorted him to his hotel. This, and the 
fact that the Washington police force is too 
limited to meet unusually large demands, were 
afterwards given as excuse for the failure to 
give the women the protection for which they had 
asked. At any rate, hardly had the procession 
started from the Capitol before the thousands 
of men and boys that packed the sidewalks be- 
gan to surge out into the wide avenue, defying 
ropes and scattered policemen, and crowding 
upon the women in their beautiful costumes of 
blue and pink and cream colour. Some even 
snatched at their banners and their dresses. In 
some parts of the avenue, the crowd closed in so 
that the floats and carriages were obliged to 
stop, and the horses, frightened at the tumult, 
backed and reared, and in some cases, endan- 
gered the lives of their riders or others. The 
police made futile attempts to preserve order, 
but it was claimed afterwards that some of them 
stood by without interfering, even when they saw 
women roughly handled by young hoodlums. 

Troop 5 and the Germantown Scouts under 


lU BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


charge of Alan Marshall were stationed at the 
upper part of the avenue where Fifteenth 
Street cuts through it at the Treasury building. 
Here the crowd was very dense, for after the 
parade the women were to have tableaux on the 
wide steps of the Treasury, and many waited to 
see these. 

As the procession approached this point, the 
crowds in the streets increased — on the side- 
walks they could not increase, for there people 
were packed solid, and none could come or go. 
Finally Alan Marshall spoke to a policeman. 
“ There is going to be trouble here. This is an 
ugly crowd and there aren't enough of you to 
handle it. Can’t you turn in a call for help ? ” 

The man answered with a scowl, Mind your 
own business. I ain’t takin’ orders from 
you.” 

Seeing that there was no help there, the Scout 
Master turned to Sidney Hart. “ I’m afraid 
there’s going to be serious trouble here,” he said. 
“ I’ll see if I can get word to Fort Myer. I 
leave you in charge — I’ll be back as quickly as 
possible. Tell Wilson to look out for Jack. I 
wish he and the other younger ones were out of 
this.” 

The boys were doing their utmost to hold back 
the surging crowd with their staves, and keep 
open a space for the approaching procession, 
but it was exceedingly difficult work. Again and 
again, strong, rough hands pushed aside the 
staves or flung the boys bodily out of their way. 



THE BOYS WERE DOING THEIR UTMOST TO HOLD BACK 
THE SURGING CROWDS ” 




MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 115 


Jack was not as strong as the older boys, and he 
was not used to rough handling. He never 
flinched, but Billy Burns saw how white he was, 
and slipped in front of him. 

“ Stay right here by me. Jack,” he said. 
“ Keep behind me, for if they fling you down 
you’ll be trampled half to death, sure.” He 
drew a breath of relief as Wilson Harding 
pushed his way along to Jack’s side. Billy did 
not often speak to Jack’s brother, who, he felt, 
was not his friend, but now he thought only of 
Jack as he said to Wilson, “ Can’t we get the 
kid out of this?” 

Jack’s quick ears caught the words, and he 
cried out before Wilson could answer, I’m not 
going to get out of it ! We’re all needed here to- 
day.” 

“We couldn’t get him out now, anyway,” 
Wilson answered Billy. Then to his brother, 
“ Keep close to us. Jack, and don’t lose your 
footing. Keep cool, kiddie, it will soon be 
over.” 

Suddenly a woman screamed, “ Oh, my bag ! 
Somebody’s got my bag ! ” She was standing 
in front of -Billy, and instantly his hand fell on 
the arm of a big fellow with a scar on one 
cheek. 

“ I saw you snatch it. Drop it now ! ” he 
cried, giving the arm a twist that made the fel- 
low howl and drop the bag. 

''Ouch! I’ll fix you!'' he yelled, as Wilson 
caught the bag and handed it to its owner, while 


116 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


Barney’s big fist intercepted the blow that was 
meant for Billy. 

“If I knock you down you’ll never get up 
again in this crowd, and I’ll do it, too, if you 
don’t make yourself scarce,” Barney growled. 
The thief measured him with a glance, then with 
a muttered threat he disappeared, forcing his 
way roughly through the throng. 

Barney moved up close to his friends, adding 
his staff and the strength of his brawny arms to 
hold back the crowd that was growing every 
moment more ugly and threatening. As the 
mounted heralds leading the procession drew 
near, the crowd suddenly closed in between the 
approaching column and the Scouts, sweeping 
aside two policemen. There was a wild out- 
burst of hoots and yells and taunts flung at the 
women. One man sprang up on a float, tore a 
beautiful silk banner from the hands of two 
girls, and flung it over the heads of the crowd. 
A score of hands snatched at it, and in half a 
minute it was torn to ribbons. The sturdy lit- 
tle band of Scouts, caught in that sea of crowd- 
ing, yelling roughs bent on mischief, had a 
hard time of it for a few minutes; but the big 
fellows protected the younger ones, and, as the 
crowd pushed and struggled to get nearer to 
the head of the procession, the pressure lessened 
a bit at the place where the boys stood. It was 
then that Jack cried out: 

“ Look, Will, there’s a White House carriage 
trying to get through.” 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 117 


“Oh, I guess not, kid.” Wilson’s glance 
followed Jack’s gesture. “ Wouldn’t be any 
White House carriage out in this mob.” 

“ But it is!'' Jack persisted. “Don’t you see 
— that’s Helen Taft — and her mother.” 

Wilson looked again. “ By George, you’re 
right, kid,” he exclaimed, and passed the word 
to Sidney. “We must help them if we can. 
Those horses are getting unmanageable.” 

Sidney’s quick order was passed from Scout 
to Scout, and the troop, forming a wedge, 
forced its way, slowly but steadily, through the 
throng. 

“ It’s the President’s carriage. Make way — 
make way, and let it pass,” they shouted. 

The crowd yelled and hooted. They did not 
believe that it was the President’s carriage. 
There were only women in it — a couple of 
white-faced women. But the Scouts pushed for- 
ward — big, steady-eyed fellows in front, and 
those horses were plainly about ready to bolt. 
Nobody wanted to get under their heels — so 
slowly and reluctantly the crowd fell back as 
the Scouts advanced, leaving a perilously nar- 
row passage for the carriage. But the coach- 
man did not lose his head. He held the horses 
with strong, steady hands, and at last took the 
carriage safely past the danger-point and around 
into the White House grounds. 

Sidney drew a long breath of relief then. 
“ That was a narrow squeak,” he said in a low 
tone to Wilson. “ I wish we could get Jack 


118 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


and the other youngsters out of this. It’s the 
ugliest crowd I ever saw in Washington. It’s 
dangerous.” 

“ I know it,” Wilson agreed, his eyes full of 
anxiety. We were mighty lucky to get that 
carriage through. I wish the Scout Master was 
here.” 

‘‘ Probably couldn’t get back,” replied Sidney. 
“ I wish he were here, too. I don’t like to be 
responsible for the boys in this crowd. Thank 
heaven, there he is ! ” 

He waved his hand, and the Master nodded, 
and worked his way, inch by inch, till he 
reached them. He looked very anxious as he 
asked quickly: 

Are you all right ? Anybody hurt ? ” 

“ No, but I’m mighty glad you’re here,” Sid- 
ney answered, feeling as if a load had fallen 
from his shoulders. Mr. Marshall, those 
women are really in danger. I never saw a 
crowd like this here before — so ugly and threat- 
ening.” 

“ Nor I,” the Scout Master replied. “ The 
police are either unable or unwilling to do their 
duty. Some of them probably are not regu- 
lars — just ‘ specials ’ on duty over Inauguration. 
But there’ll be help here soon now. The troops 
are on the way from Fort Myer.” 

“ That’s good news ! ” cried Wilson. ‘‘ Mr. 
Marshall, can’t we break the crowd over there 
and let the procession through ? They can’t hold 
the horses there much longer.” 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 119 


“ We must try. Small boys in the middle — 
remember.” He gave rapid orders which were 
promptly obeyed, and again the troop began to 
force its way through the densely-packed mass, 
this time towards the procession which was now 
in a deadlock between pushing, howling throngs 
on either side, and an impassable crowd in front. 
Barney Doyle had pressed forward to the Scout 
Master’s side, pushing Sidney Hart aside with 
the brief explanation, “ My fists will do more 
damage than yours. You look after the kids.” 
Two other big, brawny fellows of the Tiger 
patrol got behind Barney and the Master, and 
others followed close, Sidney and Wilson and 
two other older boys falling back to the rear, 
for the protection of the younger boys of the 
troop. Progress again was slow but steady. 
Alan Marshall was wont to be obeyed — ex- 
pected to be obeyed — and, willing or unwilling, 
those in his way obeyed him now, until at 
last the way was opened. And none too soon, 
for, by this time, all along the line the horses 
were frightened and restive, and the riders were, 
many of them women or young girls unaccus- 
tomed to riding. 

As the last of those blocking the way were 
forced back on either side, the Scout Master 
called aloud to the heralds at the head of the 
procession : 

Come on now, slowly. Troops are on the 
way from the fort. They’ll be here very 


soon. 


120 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“Oh, thank heaven!” one frightened girl 
cried out at that. 

“ Soldiers ! They’re bringin’ the soldiers to 
trample us down ! ” a dark-faced rascal yelled. 
“ Soldiers fer these fool women ! ” He ended 
with an oath, and struck the girl’s horse a sud- 
den heavy blow across the head. 

The horse snorted and reared, throwing his 
rider, and pawing the air with his forefeet; and 
for a few minutes there was wild confusion, 
horses backing into the crowd and into each 
other, the frightened cries of their riders min- 
gling with- the shouts and oaths of the mass of 
men and boys falling back on those behind to 
get away from those threatening hoofs above 
their heads. The Scout Master had caught the 
girl as she slipped from the saddle, and put her 
into a carriage behind the heralds, and the 
troop behind him took advantage of the oppor- 
tunity as the crowd fell back, and again held it 
back with their staves and their strong arms to 
brace the staves. 

Then from the distance came the ringing 
sound of galloping hoofs and the Scouts sent 
up a glad shout, “ The soldiers — the soldiers are 
coming ! ” 

The crowd caught the sound, too, and 
echoed the cry, but sullenly and with dark 
faces. 

“ The soldiers ! They’ve ordered out the 
troops ! ” while the white-faced women took 
heart, the terror died out of their eyes, and the 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 121 


procession at last began again to move slowly 
toward. 

Barney had slipped back along the line, and 
was adding his strength to help Billy and Wil- 
son hold the crowd back. Suddenly Nolan 
yelled : 

“ Look out, Doyle ! 

Barney turned like a flash and faced the fel- 
low with the scar on his cheek. 

You’ll git what’s cornin’ ter you, anyhow, 
’fore the soldiers git here,” the fellow cried, 
and struck viciously at Barney. Instinctively, 
Barney dodged the blow, and it would have 
fallen on Jack Harding who stood behind him, 
but instantly Billy Bums threw himself be- 
tween the two. The heavy fist struck his head 
a glancing blow and landed with full force on 
his shoulder. 

“ Jest as well. I owed him one, too,” the 
fellow cried. Barney grabbed at him, but he 
wriggled from his grasp and was gone. 

“ Quick — a stretcher ! ” the Scout Master or- 
dered, and two Scouts slipped off their jackets, 
fastened them across their staves, and Billy was 
laid gently on the improvised stretcher. The 
crowd fell back now — no one disputed the way 
for a boy, limp and motionless — perhaps dead or 
dying. Eyes a few minutes before full of hate 
and malice, gazed now curiously, even regret- 
fully, at the white face of the lad in khaki whom 
they themselves would have beaten down so 
short a time before. 


122 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


The galloping horses were coming down by 
the White House now, and their riders were 
armed with other weapons than the slender 
staves of the Boy Scouts. The crowds in the 
streets pressed sullenly back — back — unheeding 
the cries and protests of those behind them, and 
a way was opened where, a few minutes earlier, 
one would have said that to open it thus widely 
was impossible. The soldiers made way for the 
stretcher — one of the officers summoned an am- 
bulance, and Billy was borne swiftly to a hos- 
pital. The Scout Master sent Wilson with him, 
and, yielding to the pleading in Jack’s wide eyes, 
let him go, too. 

“ Come back and tell me about Billy as soon 
as you can, Wilson,” the Master said, and added 
in a low tone, Send Jack home if you can.” 

Wilson nodded silently and the ambulance 
went off, the clang of its gong drifting back to 
the sober-faced boys left behind. The Scout 
Master spoke reassuringly to them. 

“ I don’t think that Billy is seriously hurt,” 
he said. The blow on his head stunned him. 
That fellow must have had an iron fist.” 

He had that — knuckles,’*’ replied Nolan 
briefly. 

“ Did you see them, Nolan ? ” the Scout Mas- 
ter asked quickly. 

Nolan nodded. “ Yes, sir — iron knuckles. I 
seen ’em. An’ I’d like to crack his bean fer him 
with them same,” he muttered under his breath. 

Billy’s accident had left a heavy cloud on 


MARCH THIRD IN WASHINGTON 123 


Troop 5, and the Pennsylvania Scouts were full 
of sympathy. They all watched with but half- 
hearted interest as the long procession with its 
floats and banners, and its waned costumes, 
passed on, through the now unobstructed way. 
The crowd looked on, mostly in sullen silence, 
broken only by hisses and taunts now and then 
— occasionally by cheers, sometimes friendly, 
sometimes derisive. The friends of the suffra- 
gists were mostly in seats back of the sidewalks, 
and their cheers and clappings floated over the 
close-packed heads between them and the pro- 
cession. 

“ Any of you who like can go over yonder 
and see the tableaux on the steps of the Treas- 
ury,” the Scout Master told the boys, but none 
of them seemed eager to go. 

“ We’ll wait here till Harding gets back,” Bar- 
ney said gruffly. “ I don’t want to see their 
tableaux.” Barney was saying to himself again 
and again, Billy got what was meant for me.” 

“ But our guests ought to see the tableaux. 
They will be well worth seeing, I think,” the 
Master said ; and so part of the troop went over 
with the Germantown boys and found standing- 
places — as only boys could find them in such a 
crowd — where they could see the exhibition. 
The others waited where they were for Wil- 
son’s return. It was not long delayed. It needed 
but a glance at his face to lift the load from 
the hearts of those who loved Billy Bums, for 
it was plain that he brought good tidings. 


124 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


Broken collar-bone, that’s all,” he cried out, 
waiting for no question, “ except a big lump on 
his head. Doctors wouldn’t believe that that 
rascal hit him just with his fist.” 

No more he did,” muttered Doyle. He 
had iron knuckles — Nolan spotted ’em.” 

“If he’d hit you with them, Barney ” 

Wilson left the sentence unfinished. 

Barney nodded. “ I ain’t fergettin’ what I 
owe Billy.” 

“ Nor I,” said Wilson, with a shudder. “ But 
for Billy, it might have been — Jack — up there 
in hospital.” 

“ Billy would not have hesitated to do what 
he did if he had known that it would cost him 
his life,” the Master said, and Wilson answered 
gravely : 

“ I’m not going to forget, Mr. Marshall.” 

“ I’ll go tell the others — about Billy,” Mil- 
ler said, and slipped off to worm his way 
through the crowd in the rear of the Treasury. 
But the throng there was so dense now that 
even a boy could not get through. Miller could 
see the boys, some of them perched on tree- 
boxes, some on the foundation of the Sherman 
monument, one clinging precariously to a tele- 
graph pole. 

“ I can’t get through — have to wait till the 
show is over,” Miller told himself. He had not 
yet given a glance at the “ show ” himself. Then 
suddenly he grinned, cast a hasty glance around, 


MARCH^ THIRD IN WASHINGTON 125 


and began to climb a tree where two other boys 
were perched. 

“ Always room for one more,” one of them 
said, moving along to make room for the new- 
comer. “ Some show, ain’t it ? ” 

“ Is it? I haven’t had time to look at it yet,” 
Miller replied. Then pulling a red and white 
flag from his pocket, he fastened it to the end 
of his staff, and began to wave it. 

In a moment came an answering signal with 
a handkerchief. Then Miller slowly wig- 
wagged, “ Not bad. Better soon,” at which 
there was a glad “ hurrah ” from the other boys 
across the sea of heads. 

The two on the tree were greatly interested. 

That’s wigwagging, ain’t it ? ” one questioned. 
'' Say, what did you tell those fellers over 
there?” 

Miller explained — then he condescended to 
give his attention to the tableaux and dancing 
of the suffragists. 

“ Sufferin’ cats ! ” exclaimed one of the small 
boys on the tree. “ They’re dancin’ barefoot! 
Wouldn’t that faze ye — cold as ’tis, too ? ” 

Aw-^women’ll do all kind o’ fool tricks ! ” 
retorted the other. “ Think o’ them dancin’ on 
cold stone steps this time o’ year — an' then want- 
in' to vote!" 

Miller chuckled. I take it you don’t favour 
votes for women,” he remarked. 

The youngster grinned, a big dimple showing 
among the freckles on one cheek. “ No, sir-^^.' ” 


126 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


he answered. “ Us fellers ’ll ’tend to the votin’, 
but I don’t mind the women havin’ percessions 
an’ shows like that.” He flung out a freckled 
hand in a broadly tolerant gesture. “ It’s good 
fun for us, ye know.” 


IX 


INAUGURATION DAY 

T he next day was the great occasion to 
the Germantown boys, who never before 
had witnessed an Inaugural parade. 
The boys of Troop 5 had seen several such pa- 
rades, but the eager interest and enthusiasm of 
their guests gave it a new zest even for the 
Washington boys. Sidney Hart’s father had 
given the troop permission to use, for the day, 
a second-story room in a building he owned on 
Pennsylvania Avenue. It was an excellent place 
from which to watch the endless succession of 
soldiers, sailors, and citizens, passing along the 
wide avenue. 

“ Gee, but it’s different from yesterday ! ” one 
of the Germantown boys exclaimed. “ The 
police can keep the crowd behind the ropes, it 
seems. Why didn’t they do it, yesterday?” 

Miller shrugged his shoulders. Reckon they 
didn’t want to. It’s another story to-day. This 
is an inaugural parade. The other was — suf- 
fragists.” 

‘‘ Hm ! ” said the other boy. “ Suffragists or 
not — they had a right to parade, hadn’t they? 
It would have been a show worth seeing if they 
had had a clear field on this wide avenue yes- 
127 


128 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 

terday. I don’t think it was fair to the 
women.” 

They don’t either,” answered Wilson Hard- 
ing. “ I heard that they are going to make a big 
row about it.” 

Wouldn’t blame ’em if they did,” Jimmy 
Hunter declared. 

“ Here they come,” Miller cried. See — 
there’s ' It ’ and the ‘ Has Been ’ — Wilson and 
Taft. Taft won’t be President many minutes 
more.” 

Must be kind o’ rough for the out-going 
President to ride down the avenue like that with 
his successor,” one thoughtful boy said. 

“ Worse when they ride back,” retorted 
Frazer. Taft is President now — he won’t be, 
then.” 

‘‘ Say — let’s race down to the Capitol and see 
Wilson take the oath of office,” Miller sug- 
gested. 

'‘Oh, can we?” questioned two or three of 
the visitors eagerly. 

“ Of course — if we can get within a mile of 
the steps. You can see it done, anyhow, even 
if you can’t hear.” 

In a moment the room was empty. Through 
deserted streets the boys raced, and around to 
the east front of the Capitol. The big plaza 
was a solid mass of people, but somehow the 
boys managed to find places where they could 
see, and even catch a few words of the new 
President’s address. 



SOMEHOW THE BOYS MANAGED TO FIND BLACES WHERE THEY COULD SEE 






INAUGURATION DAY 129 

Then back they hurried to the room where 
they found the Scout Master and Jack Hard- 
ing with a ^generous luncheon, awaiting them. 

‘‘ Lucky we decided to stop here. We’d half 
a mind to go right up to the White House to 
see the review,” Don Frazer said. 

“ Time enough for that after you’ve had your 
lunch — and you needn’t hurry it, either,” the 
Master returned. 

“Heard from Billy this morning?” Barney 
inquired anxiously. 

“ Yes, he’s getting on all right. Jack and I 
went up to inquire before we came here,” Alan 
Marshall answered. 

“ The doctor said Billy was feeling fine,” 
Jack added. “ I’m going up to stay with him at 
visitors’ hour this afternoon.” 

The luncheon eaten, the Germantown boys 
were impatient to be off, and most of Troop 5 
went with them; but Barney Doyle and Nolan 
remained to help clear up after the lunch, and 
later, Barney went with the Master and Jack 
to the hospital. 

“ To-morrow’s our last day,” one of the boys 
sighed, that night, as they were arranging the 
pew cushions on the chapel floor. “ I wish we 
could do it all over again, don’t you, Hunter?” 

“ Sure I do. We never could have a better 
time.” 

“ And that’s the truth ! ” Dick Farliss ex- 
claimed. “ Gee ! Won’t we make the home 
crowd sit up and take notice when we get back ? ” 


130 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


You bet ! came the response from more than 
one voice. 

“ Wish we could do something for Dr. Wright 
and Mr. Calton/’ Jimmy Hunter said, as he 
settled himself comfortably under his blanket. 
“ How much money is there in the crowd — to 
spare? I’ve got two dollars left.” 

“ He’s a regular John D.,” called Farliss. 

Don’t believe I’ve got fifty cents.” 

I’ve got a dollar.” 

Each boy called out a sum, greater or smaller 
— mostly smaller — and Jimmy added them up in 
his head. The total was eleven dollars. Jimmy 
sat up excitedly. 

That’s enough to get something for Mr. Cal- 
ton anyhow. He’s been so fine to us I’d just like 
to do it. What do you all say ? ” 

Jimmy’s sentiment was unanimously approved, 
but further discussion of it was cut short for the 
time being, by the announcement that it was ten 
o’clock. Ten o’clock meant taps.” In another 
moment lights were out, and silence reigned in 
the chapel. 

The next morning the Germantown boys were 
up early, and when Mr. Calton appeared, he 
found the chapel in immaculate order. Not only 
had the cushions been carried back to the pews 
in the church, but the boys had found brooms 
and brushes in the basement, and had thoroughly 
swept, dusted, and aired the chapel. Everything 
was in order, and no one would ever have imag- 


INAUGURATION DAY 131 

ined that twenty-four boys had spent four nights 
there. 

The surprise and pleasure of Mr. Calton de- 
lighted the boys. We have done everything we 
could think of/’ Jimmy Hunter said. “If we’ve 
forgotten anything, I wish you’d tell us. We 
don’t want to leave a thing for you* to do.” 

“ Indeed, you haven’t,” he told them. “ You’ve 
saved me the job of sweeping the chapel, which 
I should have done to-morrow if you hadn’t slept 
in it. I’m sorry your time’s up, boys. Wish 
you could stay longer.” 

“ So do we ! ” the boys shouted. “ We’ve had 
the best time ever I We’re going to send a vote 
of thanks to Dr. Wright and the church when 
we get home.” 

Then they all shook hands with Mr. Calton, 
and he stood on the steps and watched them as 
they marched off, their blankets on their backs, 
their staves in their hands, their troop banner 
floating in the morning breeze with the Stars and 
Stripes, while the drum corps played the Star 
Spangled Banner. 

“ They’re a fine lot of boys,” he said aloud, 
when the last khaki-clad figure had disappeared. 

The vote of thanks, signed by the twenty-four 
boys, was duly received by Dr. Wright, and to 
Mr. Calton came a scarfpin with a tiny diamond, 
as a “ Thank you ” from the boys. 

Some time later there came a day when Troop 
19, Germantown Scouts, had a great surprise. 
A registered package came to Jimmy Hunter, 


132 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


and with it a letter from Jack Harding. This 
is what Jack wrote : 

“ Dear Jimmy, IVe got an awful lot to tell 
you. Tve just got back from a meeting at the 
Cosmos Theatre, and didn’t I just wish you and 
all Troop 19 had been there! 'Representative 
Hobson of Alabama — You remember what he 
did in the Spanish war? — well, he made an ad- 
dress, and you just ought to have heard what he 
said about the Boy Scouts and what they did 
on March 3rd. He sure did cover us all with 
honey. Then he told some stories about officers 
in the Spanish war, and the gallant things they 
did — dandy stories ! Wish you’d heard ’em. 
Then the wife of another representative — she’s 
a suffragist — presented medals to all the Wash- 
ington Scouts that were on duty that day — I 
mean the day of the parade. The medals are 
bronze, and it says on them, ' In grateful ac- 
knowledgment of duty well done ’ — but I needn’t 
tell you when you’ll see them for yourselves. 
Our Scout Master gave in the names of your 
troop — Isn’t it luck}^ I remembered them all? — 
and he’s sending your medals by registered mail. 
I hope all you fellows will be pleased. We are. 
Only I think Billy Burns ought to have an extra 
medal or something for that crack he got — don’t 
you? 

Greetings to Troop 19, Germantown, from 
Troop 5, Washington — and good luck to you all. 

Your friend, 

John Everett Harding. 


INAUGURATION DAY 133 

P. S. I forgot to tell you that President Wil- 
son is honorary president of the Boy Scouts of 
America. They announced it at the meeting. 

J. H. 

P. P. S. Here’s the latest yell. Some Scouts 
made it up at Camp Archibald Butt: 

* Rickety swats, rickety snats, jumpin’ howlin’ 
sufferin’ cats. 

Bumpety bing, bumpety bang, the rest of the 
world can just go hang, 

We’re going to stay — we’re going to stay in old 
Camp Butt! 

Hip, hip hooray ! ’ 


Isn’t it great ? ” 


X 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 

I N May Troop 5 began planning to go to 
Gettysburg in July. Mr. Harding and his 
sons were going with Mr. Hart and Sidney, 
and the Scout Master was going, too. The boys 
pored over Civil War histories and their en- 
thusiasm grew. In the end, sixteen of the troop 
accompanied the Master. 

The journey seemed long to Jack, even in the 
swift-rolling car; he was afraid that his troop 
might arrive before him. The city was thronged, 
cars and carriages and an endless procession of 
men and women filing through the sunny, dusty 
streets. The heat was intense. As they passed 
the station Jack stared in amazement at the 
throng of old men that swarmed about it. 

“ Why — why, they're veterans, father ! See — 
they’re wearing the blue and the grey ? And they 
look so — so old!” His voice faltered over the 
last words. To his young eyes, many of these 
men looked pitifully old and feeble. He had not 
realised, as he had read of charges and battles, 
that those who took part in them, if living, must 
now be old. He choked up at sight of these 
ancient men — many with canes or crutches, some 
134 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 135 

with empty sleeves, some blind. Jack’s heart 
swelled with pity and sympathy. 

The first sight of the great field with its long 
rows of tents — flags flying, bands playing. 
United States soldiers on guard, officers in uni- 
form and old men in blue and grey wandering 
through the “ streets ” between the lines of tents 
— all this dazed Jack a little. There was so much 
to see ! 

At Scout Headquarters, he learned that Troop 
5 , D. C, had not yet arrived, but help was needed 
there, and Jack put himself at the service of the 
man in charge. But whatever he was doing, he 
kept on the watch for Troop 5 . He was begin- 
ning to get anxious and fear some accident when 
at last he caught sight of the familiar troop 
banner waving above the crowd in the “ Long 
Lane,” as the main street in the tented city was 
called. In a flash he was in the throng, worming 
his way through incredibly narrow openings till, 
with a shout, he joined the troop, and fell into 
step beside Billy. 

They registered at headquarters, and the Scout 
Master found out where their tents were to 
stand. He gave his orders promptly. 

** Things are in considerable of a muddle here 
yet. It seems that we must go over and get our 
tents.” He named a dozen of the older boys. 
‘‘ You come over to the freight office with me. 
The rest of you wait here.” 

The boys left behind dropped down on the 
shady side of a tent. There were very few trees 


136 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


here, and the sun poured down mercilessly on 
the tents and the crowded, dusty lanes between 
them. 

Great Scott ! It’s hotter’n blazes ! ” Miller 
said, fanning his moist face with his hat. 

It was a long time before the Scout Master 
and the boys returned, but those left behind found 
plenty to interest them. Through the “ lanes ” 
between the tents poured an endless procession 
of veterans and sightseers. The boys forgot the 
heat and their weariness as they watched and 
listened. 

Here comes another batch from the South,” 
Miller exclaimed, as the strains of Dixie rose 
jubilantly above the farther sounds, and down 
the Long Lane came a straggling band in grey, 
while out from the tents ran other old men in 
grey, and many in blue, to fall in behind the 
newcomers and swell the procession. 

Jet-rusalemD' pried Carter, after they had 
counted nine of these impromptu parades, 
“ where will they all sleep ? ” 

'' Where we will if Scout Master doesn’t get 
our tents — under the stars,” replied Miller. 

" Reckon I’d prefer to be under a blanket. 
It’ll be chilly after sundown,” another remarked. 

"Chilly? That sounds good to me,” Miller 
said, mopping his face. 

" Here, you Scouts — I’ve a job for you.” 

The boys were on their feet in an instant. 

“ Ready for orders, sir,” said Frazer, saluting 
the officer who had stopped before them. 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 


137 


I want some tents set up. Can you do it ? 

‘‘ Yes, sir/' Frazer answered for them all. 

“ Come with me, then." 

“ Jack, you and Carter wait here and tell the 
Scout Master where we are," Frazer said, as he 
and the other boys followed the officer. 

Carter scowled. “ Don’t see why we have to 
do the waiting," he grumbled, “any more’n Fra- 
zer an’ the rest of ’em." 

“ Suppose somebody has to do it," Jack said 
cheerfully, though he, too, would have liked to 
set up those tents. “ But we can set up our 
own," he added. 

“ No fun in that — that’s just duty." Carter 
was determined to find fault. 

The Scout Master and the older boys returned 
at last with the tents, and, having set them up, 
the Scout Master suggested that they go and 
see if the rest of the troop needed help. 

“ But we don’t know where they are," Jack 
objected. 

“ I noticed some Scouts setting up tents over 
this way," the Master said, and the boys followed 
him. They found the others, under Frazer’s 
direction, still hard at work, and very glad of 
assistance. 

“ We’d got ’em all set up," Miller grumbled, 
“ and then they found they were in the wrong 
place, so we had to pull ’em down and begin all 
over again." 

“ Hard luck," the Master said, “ but think what 
a lot of work you saved somebody else." 


138 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


That did not seem very comforting to the boys, 
but with the help ©f the Master and the 
strong-armed older boys, the task was soon com- 
pleted. 

“ Here comes the captain,” Frazer said, as the 
last stake was driven. 

The captain and another officer inspected the 
work ; then the latter turned to the captain. 

“ You say these youngsters set up these 
tents ? ” 

The captain said, Yes.” 

“ Don’t believe it — that’s the work of regu- 
lars,” retorted the other. “ Maybe the boys 
helped some,” and he strode off without a word 
to the boys. 

Miller turned to his comrades. “ Wouldn’t 
that jar you?” he cried indignantly. 

The Scout Master laughed. “ Never mind, 
boys — ^your work is approved, if you don’t get 
credit for it, and Scouts don’t work for credit — 
not here, anyhow. Now come to supper,” he 
added. 

“ We were lucky to get our tents,” one of the 
boys said, as they followed the Scout Master. 
“ You never saw such a mess as that freight 
room — piles and piles of stuff dumped in any 
old place, and everybody grumbling because they 
couldn’t get their own.” 

After supper the Scout Master suggested that 
they all make the rounds of the camp together, 
to learn where everything and everybody was — 
and see the sights, all that were to be seen. 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 139 

To-morrow we go on duty/' he said, and it 
will be work, not play — ^you can see that.” 

So he led the troop down the one long street, 
and then back and forth through the short ones 
that crossed it, locating the various army head- 
quarters, state headquarters, hospitals, rest-sta- 
tions, cook-tents, etc., so that the boys would be 
able to answer questions and direct strangers on 
the morrow. 

The streets of the camp were brilliant with 
electric lights, and still thronged with soldiers, 
veterans, and sightseers. Street fakirs and 
vendors of all sorts of souvenirs, shouted and 
held up their wares to passers-by, while refresh- 
ment booths and peanut stands did a flourishing 
business. The boys filled their pockets with pea- 
nuts, and went along cracking the shells and 
munching, as nine out of ten around them were 
doing. Every few minutes, the sharp clang of 
a gong cut through the jumble of noises, and 
everybody made way for an ambulance to pass. 

“ One thing you are to remember, boys,” said 
the Master. “ You must take things moderately 
to-morrow, no matter how many calls you have 
to answer. It won’t do to race around in a hot 
place like this when the mercury is over a hun- 
dred, as it was to-day. Remember, moderation 
and common sense will give best results in the 
long run. I know no boy in Troop 5 will shirk, 
but I don’t want any in hospital either.” 

The boys saw the reasonableness of this, and, 
had they needed any proof of its wisdom, they 


140 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


had plenty before they returned to their tents 
to turn in; for about the railroad station, they 
saw many weak, weary old men in faded uni- 
forms still hanging around to watch the trains 
that came in at intervals until daylight — every 
train bringing more old men with grey-white 
faces and blinking eyes — many who staggered 
as they tried to walk, and begged passers-by to 
show them their state headquarters, or get them 
food or blankets. Some had been travelling all 
day without food — some had been several days 
on the way. Some were jaunty and merry, eager 
to show that they were still as good as the best, 
but the weight of years was too heavy on most 
of them, and they gave way under the long strain 
of heat and fatigue and excitement. 

It was impossible for the boys of Troop 5 to 
see these things and not try to help; and, hav- 
ing begun, it seemed impossible to stop. At ten- 
thirty, however, the troop call brought them all 
together. The Master’s keen eyes looking them 
over, saw that many of them were already very 
tired. 

“ Wilson,” he ordered, “ I put you in charge 
of the troop for the night. Go back to the tents 
and to bed as quickly as possible.” He looked 
at the older boys, and added, “ I want eight vol- 
unteers — no one under sixteen — and no one who 
is tired — to help here for an hour or two more.” 

Every boy of the age named stepped forward 
without a moment’s hesitation — all except Duff. 
He was the last to volunteer. The Master se- 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 141 

lected eight. Billy Burns was not among them, 
and his face showed his disappointment. 

“ I'm sixteen an’ I’m strong as any of ’em,” 
he urged. 

The Master’s hand touched his shoulder and 
rested there as he answered, You will have a 
hard day to-morrow — all of you will. Scouts 
obey orders, Billy.” 

Billy nodded and turned away without another 
word. As he marched off with the others, Jack 
dropped into step at his side. 

Hard lines, Billy, wasn’t it, to get sent back 
to bed ? Wilson’s cross as a bear, ’cause he has 
to go back with us and Sidney doesn’t. I don’t 
blame him, either. I don’t feel a bit tired, do 
you ? ” 

Billy shook his head, but he noticed Jack’s 
flushed cheeks and the weary droop of his shoul- 
ders. It’s all right, though,” he said. '' I 
reckon we’ll need all the sleep we can get. I 
heard one officer say he wished there were twice 
as many Scouts here — they’d all be needed to- 
morrow.” 

Meantime, the Scout Master’s glance swept 
over the eight big fellows he had selected. They 
all looked fit, except possibly Sidney Hart; but 
he was assistant Scout Master of the troop, 
and had begged so hard to be allowed to help 
that Alan Marshall could not refuse. He put 
four of the boys under his direction. 

Belated trains will be coming in all night,” 
he said, “and they will bring hundreds more 


142 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


of these tired old men. Some of them will be sick, 
and none of them probably will know where 
to go or what to do. Take them to their state 
headquarters, of course, when there is any one 
in charge there, but ” — he named several states — 

it's no use taking the men there. The only 
thing to do for any coming from these states 
is to get them something to eat, and some blank- 
ets. They'll have to sleep on the ground to- 
night. You all know where food and blankets 
are to be found ? " 

“ Food part's all right," said Barney, “ but 
I just heard a man say that the blankets had 
given out. More veterans than blankets now." 

The Master frowned impatiently. “ Bad man- 
agement somewhere," he said. ‘‘ There'll al- 
ways be somebody to blunder, but it’s not the 
army officers this time." He scribbled a line on 
his card and gave it to Sidney. ‘‘If you find 
any old men you can't provide for at their state 
headquarters, go to Major Normoyle for blank- 
ets. They have a few that they are holding 
for emergency cases. And remember, Hart — 
you are all to go to the tents and to bed at two 
o’clock. You understand? " 

“ I understand," Sidney replied, and the 
Master turned away with Barney, Nolan, and 
Don Frazer. “ We must look after some of the 
old men down in the town," he said. “ Saloons 
are open everywhere, and some of them, I am 
told, are selling the vilest kind of liquor to these 
poor old fellows. Boys, you’ll see in this town 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 


143 


to-night what liquor does to men — ^young and 
old. The time is coming when the Boy Scouts 
of America can help put an end to the liquor 
traffic, and the end will mean an enormous de- 
crease in crime and poverty. Look at that.” 

They were on a street where there seemed 
to be little but saloons — at least, every place that 
was open had glaring liquor signs. All were 
brilliantly lighted, draped with flags, G.A.R. and 
Confederate symbols ; and “ Welcome to Vet- 
erans — the grey and the blue,” or some similar 
greeting was in every window. 

“ Gee ! They sure are doin’ some business ! ” 
muttered Barney, as, through the open doors, he 
saw places crowded with men, shouting, laugh- 
ing, or swearing at the bartenders, who could 
not supply their wants fast enough. 

“ Isn’t it a shame ! ” Don Frazer cried. “ Some 
of these old men look so feeble ! ” 

It’s food and sleep they need — not drink,” 
the Master said. “ Here’s trouble.” 

A little further on three men were struggling, 
one calling for help. 

“ What’s the matter here ? ” the Master de- 
manded, as he came up to them. 

An old man’s weak voice answered. ‘‘ He’s 
taking our blankets away from us — that man 
there.” 

They’re my blankets. I put ’em down fer a 
minute an’ these old thieves stole ’em,” the man 
declared boldly. Let go there, you ” 

“ Barney, I’ll hold this man. You get the 


144 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


blankets,” the Master said. '' And, Don, whistle 
for the police.” 

Alan Marshall saw the man’s face change at 
mention of the police, and then Barney’s fist, 
hard as a flint, came down on the clutching fin- 
gers with a blow that made the man yell and 
loosen his grip on the blankets. With an oath, 
he twisted himself free of the Scout Master’s 
grasp, and vanished into a dark alley. One of 
the old men was sobbing. The other explained, 
“ We got our blankets, but we’ve no place to 
sleep yet, so we had to lug the blankets round 
with us. He’s ninety,” he indicated his com- 
panion, and spoke proudly, ‘‘ an’ I’ll be eighty- 
one next January. He’s blind — my friend here 
— been blind since ’64.” 

Since ’64 — forty-nine years blind,” said Don 
Frazer under his breath. 

“ You’d better come back to camp,” the Scout 
Master said. “ The town is no place for sober, 
honest men to-night. We’ll find a place for you 
to sleep.” 

The old man turned at once. “You a sol- 
dier ? ” Evidently his eyes, too, were dim. 
“ We’ll obey orders. Obeyed orders fifty years 
ago, didn’t we, Sam?” 

Sam gave a cackling laugh, as he clung to 
his friend’s arm. “ Did so,” he agreed. “ Say, 
cap’n, Jim an’ me was in that fight up yonder, 
an’ we wanted to see the old field again. We’ve 
come ’way from Colorado, an’ this’ll be our last 
march, I reckon.” 


GETTYSBURG--1913 


145 


“Maybe you'll tell us about the battle to- 
morrow," Don Frazer said, slipping the blind 
man’s hand over his arm. 

The old fellow tried to straighten his back, 
bowed under the weight of almost a century. 
“ ril tell ye — Fll tell ye," he promised. “ I 
ain’t fergot it in all these years. Lord — Lord, 
the times I’ve fought that battle over — I — I 
reckon — I got to stop — a minute. I’m so — 
tired ’’ 

“ Quick, Barney, Nolan — he’s fainted or — 
We’ve got to carry him," Don cried out. 

“He ain’t dead — Sam ain’t dead!'"^ the other 
man cried out, his chin quivering as he reached 
for the skinny wrist of his old comrade. 

“ No, he’s not dead. I think he has fainted 
from exhaustion," the Master said. “ Best 
get him to the hospital as quickly as we 
can." 

There was no ambulance in sight, so with 
swift, experienced hands, an improvised 
stretcher was made with one of the blankets 
stretched across two staves, and the Scouts 
started for the hospital, the other old man lean- 
ing heavily on the Master’s arm. He was quite 
silent now, his head drooping, his feet stumbling 
wearily over the sidewalk. It seemed a long 
way to the hospital, for they could not hurry 
him, and he would not let them carry his friend 
ahead. 

“ No, no," he protested, “ Sam an’ me’s been 
comrades for fifty years. We — we gotta hang 


146 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


together now to the end o’ the — the campaign,” 
he ended under his breath. 

Exhaustion,” was the verdict at the hospi- 
tal. 

“Will he — will he ?” the other old man 

questioned. His trembling lips could not form 
that other word. 

“ He’ll come through,” the doctor answered 
cheerfully, his own face haggard with fatigue. 
“ But,” he warned, “ you old soldiers must be 
mighty careful. You can’t stand what you could 
fifty years ago — see ? ” 

“ He, he ! ” the old man chuckled in his re- 
lief, and threw back his shoulders, “ I’m 
stronger’n Sam — a heap stronger. I’ll look out 
fer him. I — I’ll come for him in the mornin’ 
’fore breakfast.” 

The doctor gave him a keen glance that noted 
the grey drawn skin, sunken eyes, and shaking 
hands, and motioned to an attendant. 

“ You’d better stay here to-night, too,” he 
told the old man. “ Your comrade might worry 
when he comes to, if he found you gone.” 

“ I — mebbe that’s — ^best,” agreed the old sol- 
dier, and quite forgetting the Scouts, he tottered 
away with the attendant. 

“If he lives through the next four days, he’ll 
be lucky,” the doctor said to the Scout Master. 
“ Poor old chaps — it’s pathetic to see these old, 
feeble ones.” 

The boys left the hospital with sober faces. 
“ Say, I didn’t think it was goin’ to be this way. 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 147 

did you, Frazer?’' Barney inquired, as they 
turned again towards the town. 

“ Never imagined it. Didn’t realise how old 
most of the vets must be. Scout Master says 
the average age is seventy, but lots of ’em are 
older than that.” 

When, an hour later, they approached the 
station, Don exclaimed, "" What a crowd ! Twice 
as many as when we started out. Wouldn’t you 
think these old fellows would have sense enough 
to get to bed? See, the regulars are trying to 
drive them away.” 

They are like children — so excited that they 
don’t realise how tired they are,” the Master 
replied. You must remember that this semi- 
centennial is a wonderful event to them. They 
are going to live over again the four years that 
loom largest in their lives, meet comrades whom 
they’ve not seen in fifty years. There will never 
be — can never be — another such occasion for 
these old soldiers. It’s no wonder that some 
of them are a bit unbalanced by it all.” 

That’s true, of course,” Don admitted. “ It’s 
a great sight. I wouldn’t have missed it for any- 
thing.” 

You’ll think that many times before the next 
three days are over,” the Master told him. 
‘‘ Come now.” 

Reluctantly Don turned his back on the great 
throng that stretched far on either side of the 
station. Innumerable voices mingled in a med- 
ley of sound that had something strangely thrill- 


148 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


ing in its discords, and bugle notes and the 
muffled beat of drums sounded from every direc- 
tion. Trains drew in every few minutes, and 
from them poured more tired, sleepy, bewildered 
men in faded grey or blue, to be greeted with 
shouts and cheers, outstretched hands and 
snatches of song ; while over all, at intervals, the 
voice of the officer in charge, hoarse from long 
hours of such use, directed through the mega- 
phone the landing of these belated special trains. 

Fifty special trains in to-night ! ” Don said 
as they passed on. “ I pity Captain Justus — ^he 
won’t get any sleep, I guess.” 

Nor any other army officer here,” the Mas- 
ter replied. They all have their hands full. 
That extra five thousand on the way, compli- 
cates things badly.” 

At five o’clock next morning, somebody 
sounded a long bugle blast, and at once the 
tented city was all astir. The boys of Troop 5 
turned out, some sleepy-eyed and yawning, but 
most of them ready for what the day was to 
bring; and out of the tents poured the boys of 
’61, as eager as any Scout of them all for what 
this new day held in store. 

” Gee, but this is some sight ! ” Jack’s eyes, 
wide with eager interest, were taking it all in. 

Say — everybody's out already.” 

“ Of course. I’d like to strangle the fool that 
blew that bugle. Might have had another hour’s 
sleep as well as not,” grumbled Don Frazer. 

But, breakfast over and the tents in order. 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 


149 


the boys were ready for work. It was another 
hot day, and the constant passing of many feet 
kept the tent streets full of clouds of fine dust 
that drifted over everything. Most of the vet- 
erans were eager and alert this morning. Old 
comrades met and wrung each other’s hands, 
then settled down to talk of the old war-times, 
and fight their battles over again. 

But now there was no bitterness between the 
grey and the blue. There were no foes — all were 
comrades. The men in grey saluted the Stars 
and Stripes with love and reverence, and those 
who wore the blue joined in the enthusiastic 
cheers that greeted the stained and ragged ban- 
ners with the Stars and Bars. 

The Scout Master assigned the troop to vari- 
ous duties, but all were to meet at headquarters 
at one o’clock. It is impossible to tell half the 
happenings of those three days — even those with 
which the boys of Troop 5 had to do. They all 
had their adventures, their thrills, their discov- 
eries. They looked and listened, till eyes and 
ears and brains were as tired as their feet, that 
travelled countless miles up and down those 
dusty, noisy streets ; they answered endless ques- 
tions, directed innumerable bewildered old fel- 
lows, carried messages and bags, and, when the 
long, hot days were over, and the cool breath of 
the hills crept down over the sun-baked streets 
and tents, the Scouts tumbled into bed too tired 
to think or speak, and slept as only healthy boys 
can sleep until the morning. 


150 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


But though the Scouts lost no opportunity to 
do a good turn, their quick young eyes took in 
all that went on around them. 

“ O look, Billy ! ” Jack cried out once, that's 
Governor Mann — father knows him. See, the 
greycoats know him. Isn’t that great?" 

In Confederate Avenue, a body of veterans 
from Richmond had lined up — near a hundred 
of them — on either side of the way; and, as the 
Governor’s car passed down the line, the men 
in grey saluted, baring their grey heads and 
giving the old rebel yell, while a passing band 
struck into Dixie. Jack found his eyes full of 
tears, and Billy’s were smarting, as that strange 
wild yell cut through the medley of sounds. 
The Governor stopped his car, and, standing in 
it bare-headed, spoke to the old men in grey. 
“ There is no North nor South now — no Rebels 
and no Yanks. We are all just the one nation," 
he said. The old men cheered and the Governor 
passed on. Scores of cars full of sightseers fol- 
lowed his, and every man in them bared his 
head as he passed between those straggling lines 
in grey. 

“ O gee ! " Jack choked. “ That was great, 
Billy, wasn’t it ? ’’ 

A moment later it was Billy who cried, Look 
quick!" 

Jack followed the pointing finger. “ What of 
it? Just a couple of Scouts," he said. 

Did you see their faces ? " 

No, only their backs." 


GETTYSBURG— 1913 151 

Well I did. One of ’em was Jim Slater — 
sure’s you live it was.” 

“Jim Slater? Why, he isn’t a Scout, is he?” 

“ Not unless he’s just joined. Don’t see how 
he could get in any troop.” 

“ Couldn’t have been Slater,” Jack declared. 

But Billy insisted that it was, and he was 
vaguely troubled by it. “ I’ll watch out for 
him,” he told himself, as Jack inquired: 

“ Did you know the other one — that was with 
him?” 

Before Billy could answer, they were stopped 
by an officer. 

“ I want half a dozen Scouts in the big tent 
yonder. Can you come — and find some others 
for me ? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” The boys saluted and ran off, 
hugely delighted. 

“Aren’t we in luck?” Jack exclaimed. “I 
wanted awf’ly to be there and hear the speeches, 
but I didn’t suppose there was a chance 
of it. Oh, I hope we can find Will and some 
others of our troop.” 

They did not find Will, but they did run across 
four others, and in a few minutes they were all 
in the big tent. The captain, catching sight of 
them, made room for them near him. “ Stay 
here, and be ready when you are needed,” he 
said. 

The great tent with its drapery of flags was 
already nearly filled with old soldiers, and other 
men, and women. Although the sides of the 


152 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


tent were raised the heat was intense, and men 
mopped their faces and women fluttered fans 
continually. Billy felt as if he were in a new 
world. Never before in his life had he been 
in such a gathering as this. His eyes lingered 
on that great army of veterans — 15,000 of them 
— all one army now, whether in blue or gray, 
and he began to realise the great conflict about 
which he had been reading for weeks past. 
These men had lived through it — to Billy they 
seemed heroes — one and all. 

Not only was every seat filled, but old men 
crowded the aisles, squeezed into comers — any 
way, any place, so they might only be there. 

Gk)vernor Tener of Pennsylvania welcomed 
the veterans, but the orator of the day was 
Secretary of War Garrison. The boys had seen 
him when he arrived, and the battery of artillery 
gave him a thundering salute. They listened 
breathlessly as he spoke of the three great his- 
toric events that, within fifty years, had made 
Gettysburg forever famous — the battle, un- 
equalled in American history — the deathless 
words of Abraham Lincoln four months after 
that battle — ^and now this wonderful gathering 
where many thousands, once deadly foes, were 
together as friends and brothers, loyal Americans 
all. 


XI 


SCOUTS AT GETTYSBURG 

J ACK did not hear all the Secretary’s ad- 
dress — he was sent off with a message in 
the midst of it — but Billy did. It was the 
first great speech that he had ever heard, and, 
given as it was on such an occasion and in such 
surroundings, it made a wonderful impression 
on him. He spoke to Barney about it laten 
“ Wish you’d been in the big tent, Barney,” 
he said. “ It — it was great! I never before 
could get hold of what it means — all the talk 
about your country an’ loyalty an’ patriotism — 
all that, you know. I thought it was mostly 
bluff — just talk an’ nothin’ else. But with thou- 
sands of those old fellows right there before me 
— ^lots of ’em with empty sleeves, an’ crutches 
an’ scars-^an’ all listening with something — 
something I never saw before — in their faces — 
I tell ye, it made me see what lovin’ your coun- 
try means. I’ll go home different, Barney. I — 
can’t say it — what I’m feelin’ in here,” Billy’s 
hand touched his breast, “ but I’m goin’ home a 
different chap from the Billy Burns that left 
Washington, the other day,” He cast a quick 
glance at his friend. Would Barney laugh him 
to scorn ? But no. Barney’s face, too, it seemed 
153 


154 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


to Billy, had in it something new, and Barney 
was looking at him with grave understanding 
eyes. 

‘‘ Guess I see what ye mean, Billy,” he said, 
and into his voice crept the gentle friendliness 
that he reserved for Billy alone. A feller in 
Troop 15 was tellin' me ’bout a meetin’ in the 
big tent yesterday — he was there. He said there 
was six women there — all old an’ grey-haired. 
Fifty years ago, when Buford’s men came into 
Gettysburg just after the Confederates — nobody 
says ‘ rebels ’ here now — Confederates had left 
— the town went wild — rang the bells ye know, 
an’ everything to welcome the Yankees — an’ a 
lot of pretty girls in white flung flowers in the 
streets fer the soldiers to ride over, an’ they 
sung war songs an’ hymns — the girls did. Must 
have been a great time. Well now,” Barney’s 
voice dropped to a lower note, “ them six old 
ladies are all that’s left of them girls that sung 
in the streets — think of it! They put ’em up 
on the platform in the big tent an’ made ’em 
sing again the same old war songs. Jason said, 
with that great tent full o’ people, it was the 
stillest place he ever was in in his life while 
the women sung — till they got to the chorus, 
an’ then the old chaps joined in the singing, an’ 
lots of ’em sat there an’ cried like babies. You 
jest ought to have heard Jason tell it, Billy.” 
Barney gave a queer, low laugh. “ Say, honest 
to glory, I most felt like I wanted a hank’chief 
myself.” 


SCOUTS AT GETTYSBURG 155 


“ I know/' Billy nodded, a strange light in his 
eyes. ‘‘ It’s — it’s diff’rent in a place like this, 
Barney. Ye don’t feel a fool if you do — want 
a hank’chief.” 

“ He’s havin’ his hands full,” Barney added 
a moment later, nodding towards a little fellow 
in Scout uniform. He was standing in the mid- 
dle of the dusty highway waving a red flag, and 
shouting warnings to autos, big and little, as 
they flew past. 

“ Go slow ! Go slow ! ” they heard the clear, 
boyish voice call, and as a big car bore down 
upon him, he shouted, “ Slow up, I say — slow 
up here ! You’ve got to give the old soldiers 
room.” 

Some of the chauifeurs laughed at the plucky 
little chap, some swore, but very few failed to 
heed his warning. 

Billy smiled, and his head went up with an 
air that was new in him. 

Gee, Barney,” he cried out, '' I’m most 
burstin’ — I’m so proud of Washington Boy 
Scouts ! He’s from Washington — that little 
chap.” 

“ He’s some Scout! ” Barney returned, and 
laughed as he added, “ Wouldn’t it jar ye to see 
the way he’s holdin’ up them big cars, an’ him 
no bigger’n a minute? Bet ye he ain’t a month 
over twelve. I take off me hat to him,” and 
turning, Barney swept off his hat and waved it 
at the small lad in khaki, who, however, was far 
too busy to notice a little thing like that. 


156 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


Wonder who they are ? Barney pointed to 
a group of grey-headed women sitting on the 
porch of a house they were approaching. “ See 
the hats go off to them. Say/’ Barney asked an 
old man in blue, ‘‘ who are the ladies over 
there ? ” 

“ Them ? They’re war-nurses. Some of ’em 
tended soldiers on the field here after the big 
battle, an’ some in the hospitals,” the man an- 
swered. “ Ought to wear gold medals, every 
one of ’^em,” he added, as he passed on. 

“ I never thought ’bout women in the war,” 
Billy said, “ but looks as if they had a good deal 
to do with it.” Then he caught Barney’s arm. 
“ Look there, quick, Barney ! ” 

“What? I don’t see anything ” 

“ That Scout — the two of ’em,” Billy’s voice 
was full of excitement. “ Don’t you see who 
they are?” 

Barney stared. “ Why, it’s Tom an* Jim f 

What — Fer the love of ” 

For one startled instant both boys stood mo- 
tionless on the edge of the sidewalk. The next, 
they were pushing their way through another 
fast-gathering crowd. It had all happened in 
an instant. There was a constant stream of 
automobiles and wagons passing between the 
crowded sidewalks, and old men crossing the 
street had to dodge as best they could, between 
the hurrying vehicles. One old man had not 
been quick enough — a heavy car was almost upon 
him when a big boy in khaki flung himself upon 


SCOUTS AT GETTYSBURG 157 


him, and pushed him into safety. But the 
boy could not save himself too — he stumbled, 
and one of the heavy wheels went over his 
leg. 

Billy and Barney got to him as .quickly as 
they could. It was Jim Slater, and Tom Jones 
was bending over him — Tom and Charlie Duff. 

The boys held off the crowd while they sent 
a bystander for an ambulance. 

“ He’s — he’s jest fainted, ain’t he ? ” Tom’s 
face was as white as his friend’s as he asked 
the question in a hoarse whisper. 

Billy called a passing Scout to take his place 
while he made a swift examination. “ Yes, he’s 
fainted. His leg’s broke,” he announced. 

Lucky they have ambulances so handy,” mut- 
tered Barney as the messenger returned with 
one. They need ’em all.” 

“ I’ll go up to the hospital with him,” Billy 
volunteered. “ You don’t need me, Barney.” 

“ Where ? What hospital ? ” Tom demanded. 

Billy named three. “ Whichever one they can 
take him in. “ Say, Tom, guess you can come 
along, too,” he added, moved by the look in 
Tom’s usually hard eyes. Without a word, Tom 
scrambled in and the ambulance rattled off, leav- 
ing Charlie Duff gazing vacantly after it. Bar- 
ney had gone on. 

After supper that night Doyle sought Billy. 

“ How about Jim ? ” he asked. 

Broken leg — compound fracture,” Billy an- 
swered. “ He’s in the Red Cross hospital.” 


158 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


‘‘And Tom?^’ 

“ He’s stayin’ to take care of him. They are 
short of help an’ glad to get anybody.” 

“ Where’s Duff ? ” was Barney’s next question. 

“ Over there.” Following Billy’s gesture, 
Doyle saw Charlie sitting alone, his hands 
clasped around his knees. 

“ Come on,” Barney said, “ we’ve got to get 
to the bottom of this business.” 

The two crossed over to Duff. Barney spoke 
to him in a tone that carried a threat. 

“ You come on. Duff. We want you.” 

With evident reluctance, Duff followed the 
other two to a place apart. There Barney 
dropped down on the ground, the others follow- 
ing his example. Barney wasted no words. His 
eyes were as stern as his voice as he said shortly, 
“ Now, Duff, make a clean breast of it — no lies 
an’ no tricks. D’ye understand?” 

Duff’s colour had faded to a pasty white and 
his pale eyes shifted uneasily. “ I — I ain’t done 
nothin’, Barney Doyle. You needn’t try to bluff 
me. I couldn’t help them two cornin’ here, no 
more’n you could yerself.” 

“ You could help bein’ with ’em,” Barney re- 
torted. “ I thought you’d shook ’em long ago. 
How come you with ’em again, an’ what does it 
mean — them bein’ in Scout uniform? You tell 
it all an’ tell it straight, too, if you know what’s 
good fer ye.” Barney spoke in a tone there was 
no mistaking, nor was there any mistaking the 
threatening gleam in his eyes. Charlie Duff 


SCOUTS AT GETTYSBURG 159 


wilted under it, and the bravado faded swiftly 
out of his weak face. He spoke hastily. 

“ ril — ril tell ye all about it, Doyle, I will, 
honest.’" 

“ Ye’d better.” There was no weakening in 
Barney’s voice or eyes. “ How long you been 
runnin’ with them two — this time, eh ? ” 

“ Not any. I ain’t been runnin’ with ’em. I 
jest stumbled on ’em by accident, this momin’ — 
first I knew they was here.” 

‘‘ Where’d you stumble on ’em ? ” 

Over there — in Confed’rate Avenue.” 

“What they in uniform for? They ain’t 
Scouts.” 

“ N-no — it’s this way — they wanted to come 
to this big show, an’ they footed it down here. 
They had khaki pants, an’ Jim thought if they 
got Scout hats they could pass fer Scouts down 
here — nobody’d notice — there are so many 
Scouts ’round. So they bought the hats, an’ 
they’ve been doin’ same’s we have here — actin’ as 
guides, goin’ errands, an’ that.” 

“ An’ stealin’ blankets an’ anything else they 
could lay hands on,” Barney added. 

Charley flushed. “If they have, I don’t know 
nothin’ about it any more’n you do. An’ any- 
how, I don’t see why you’re so down on ’em jest 
now, when Jim’s where he is jest fer tryin’ to 
save that old man.” 

“ He’s right about that,” Billy put in quietly. 

Charlie turned to him eagerly. “ Couldn’t 
any Scout have been braver’n Jim was about that. 


160 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


He might been killed himself — ^Jim might,” 
he added 

“ Thafs true,” Doyle admitted reluctantly. 

An’,” Charlie hurried on, still speaking to 
Billy, “ an’ Tom ain’t all bad, either. He’s stayin’ 
to help take care of Jim, an’ missin’ all the fun.” 

Through Billyhs mind flashed the oft-repeated 
remark of the Scout Master, “ No boy is all 
bad.” Here were these two outcasts, one risking 
his life for a stranger, the other willingly giving 
up the sights and excitements of this great gath- 
ering, to take care of his friend. Perhaps 
Charlie guessed Billy’s thoughts, for he added: 

“ Might give ’em a chance — them two. Guess 
they’ve never had one.” 

“ An’ that’s true, too,” Billy agreed thought- 
fully. 

Barney’s stern face had softened a little — now 
there was perplexity in his eyes. “ I d’know,” 
he said slowly. Of course a feller ought to 
have a chance — if he wants it — but I ain’t sure 
whether them two do want it.” 

‘^S’pose we ought to give ’em the benefit of 
the doubt,” Billy said. 

‘^You’re too easy, Billy.” Doyle spoke im- 
patiently. “If they ain’t been stealin’, an’ I 
ain’t so sure ’bout that — they’ve been lyin’ an’ 
cheatin’ — makin’ out they’re Scouts, an’ that.” 

“ But doin’ ‘ good turns ’ same’s the Scouts,” 
Charlie put in quickly. 

“ Mebbe. We’ve only their word fer that,” 
Barney replied. 


SCOUTS AT GETTYSBURG 161 


“ Don't ye think we’d better put it up to the 
Scout Master, Barney ? ” Billy suggested. “ He’d 
know what to do.” 

You’re right — that’s what we’ll do. Come 
on,” and the three went in search of the Master. 

He listened in silence to the story which was 
told by Doyle with only an occasional word from 
Billy. Charlie spoke only in answer to a ques- 
tion. 

You can leave the matter in my hands, boys,” 
the Master said. I’ll go to the hospital first 
thing in the morning, and if the two boys really 
want a chance, we must try to give them one.” 


XII 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 
HE next morning, the Scout Master called 



Doyle and Billy aside. “ I was at the 


hospital this morning,” he said, '' and saw 
the two boys. They set Jim’s leg last night; he 
seems to have no other injury. And Tom is 
winning laurels in the hospital. The doctor says 
he’s one of the best helpers they’ve had there.” 

Doyle’s eyes met Billy’s in a glance of surprise. 

Wouldn’t that jar ye — Tom Jones!” muttered 
Barney under his breath. 

The Master added, They seemed worried 
about something, I fancied — or, at least, Tom 
did — but they wouldn’t talk to me. They want 
to see you, Billy.” 

Me ? ” Billy glanced up in surprise. 

The Master nodded. I promised to send you 
over there. You might as well go now.” 

Without a word, Billy saluted and was gone. 
Barney stood a moment, looking doubtfully after 
him ; then he shook his head and turned away in 
silence. When Billy reached the hospital he 
found Jim alone, and not inclined to talk, but 
Tom appeared in a few minutes, and Tom had 
much to say. 


163 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 163 

“ We served you mean, Burns — I’ll own up 
to that,” he began at once, “ an’ mebbe you’ll be 
glad of a chance ter pay us back now. If you 
feel so, pitch inter me any old way you wanter 
— I ain’t squealin’ — but I’m speakin’ fer Jim 
here. Don’t be hard on Jim.” 

“ No, I won’t be hard on Jim,” Billy answered 
slowly. 

Tom’s troubled eyes cleared. Ye won’t tell 
on us, then ? ” he cried eagerly. 

‘^Tell what?” 

“ Anythin’ ye know — that we ain’t real Scouts,, 
an’ all.” 

“ I ain’t tellin’,” Billy returned. “ But our 
Scout Master knows. I do’ know what he’s goin’ 
to do about it.” 

“ What harm’s it do — us wearin’ Scout togs ? ” 
Tom demanded sullenly. “ We’ve worked same’s 
all you Scouts — hard as any of you, I bet.” 

“ Shouldn’t wonder,” Billy assented, but — 

but it was cheatin’ all the same.” 

“ Huh ! ” Tom taunted. “ Ye wasn’t so per- 
tic’lar yerself, once.” 

“ That’s true enough,” Billy admitted quietly,, 
but I don’t cheat nor lie now. Tom, it don’t 
pay — doin’ them things.” Billy put it on the 
only ground that he felt would appeal to the boys. 
He went on earnestly, “ Look at Barney an’ 
Nolan an’ me an’ the rest of the old gang. 
Think we’d drop back again? Not on yer life, 
we wouldn’t. We had our chance an’ we took 
it. You ” 


164 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“ We ain’t had no chance — Jim an’ me,” the 
other boy interrupted. 

“ You didn’t want one, did you? ” Billy ques- 
tioned. 

How’d you know we didn’t?” Jim broke in 
with a snuffle. “ You never offered us none — 
you’n Barney Doyle. You went ’round in yer 
uniforms, havin’ yer meetin’s an’ yer hikes, an’ 
yer campfires, an’ never givin’ us so much as 
a nod when you seen us in the street ! ” 

Billy stared from Jim’s white face to Tom’s 
sullen one — a look of wonder growing in his 
eyes. It was a moment before he spoke. 

“ I been a fool, an’ it ain’t the first time,” he 
said at last. “ I might have guessed how you’d 
feel, but — I just didn’t, that’s all — jest took fer 

granted that you liked to be ” He broke 

off abruptly to ask, “ Did you follow us out 
to the country an’ throw down our cabin 
walls ? ” 

“No, sir-e-e!” and “We did not!’' the two 
boys denied in one breath. Jim added hesitat- 
ingly, after a moment, “ We did tag you more’n 
once when you went a-hikin’, but we never 
touched yer walls. I’ll swear ter that.” 

“ D’ye know who did ? ” 

“ No,” both boys declared. “ We wasn’t ten 
minutes behind ye all the way into town, that 
night,” added Tom. He chuckled slyly, “ Say, 
Billy, one Friday night, after we found out ’bout 
that country camp, we got out there ahead of ye 
an’ dumb that big old tree near where you build 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 165 

yer campfires, 'n' we was roostin’ up there all 
the evenin’ till you-all turned in. Heard every 
word you said.” 

Billy stared at him, answering nothing. Jim, 
glancing at Billy’s face, added, “ S’pose you think 
’twas sneakin’ ter spy on ye that* way, but say, 
Burns, ’twas all we could get of your good times, 
an’ — an’ ’twasn’t so awful much, after all. Didn’t 
hurt you fellers any.” 

“ No, it didn’t hurt us,” Billy repeated half 
unconsciously. With his way of putting himself 
in another fellow’s place, Billy was thinking of 
these two homeless outcasts, hiding about in the 
woods, slinking through hidden pathways, climb- 
ing trees — just to watch other boys having good 
times. It seemed somehow pitiful to Billy. 
Deep down in his heart, he had held a grudge 
against these two ever since that dreadful night 
when he had crept out of Jack Harding’s home 
— out into the darkness, alone and sick. He had 
told himself many times that he hated Jim and 
Tom for the shame they had put upon him then 
— and through him, on Jack — but now, suddenly, 
he felt that he knew the two boys for the first 
time, and found them — not evil monsters, but 
just two lonesome homeless creatures, not so 
very different from what Billy Burns himself 
had been — not so very different from what Billy 
Burns might have been to-day if Alan Marshall 
had not given him his chance — Alan Marshall — 
and Jack. Suddenly he looked at the two 
boys with a frank, friendly smile. “ I see how 


166 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


’twas,” he said. “ I might 'a’ known before, but 
I didn’t — think.” 

Jim put in, his pasty- white face flushing 
slowly, “ When we got out of the Pen, ’twas all 
— all dif’rent. The ol’ gang was all broke up, 
you’n Barney an’ the rest was Scouts — ’cept a 
few fellers that we couldn’t get on with some- 
how, an’ — say, Billy, ’twas mighty lonesome. 
How would you like it yerself if all your troop 
should go back on ye, an’ act like you was scum 
when you happened to run across ’em in the 
•street? How’d you like it, eh?” 

Nobody ’d like it,” Billy replied. 

Jim went on, “ We stood it fer a while, then 
one day Barney saw us in the street an’ 
he come down on us like,” Jim crowded back 
the word trembling on his tongue, as a nurse 
passed, and substituted, “ like a thousand of 
brick, ’cause somebody’d seen us talkin’ to Duff. 
We wasn’t takin’ any back talk from Barney 
Doyle, an’ he made us pretty mad. ’Twas,” Jim 
stole a swift glance at Billy, “ ’twas to pay him 
up we served you that mean trick. We was jest 
^ettin’ even with Doyle — see ? ” 

Billy nodded. “ Scouts don’t get even, like 
that,” he said. 

W e ain^t Scouts,” Tom’s tone was signifi- 
cant. 

N-no,” returned Billy slowly. Would you 
be if you could — now ? ” and again with one 
breath the two boys responded instantly, 

“ You bet we would ! ” 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 167 

‘‘ You'd have to be on probation fer a while 
first " 

“What’s that — pro-bation, d’ye call it?” 

Billy explained. “ You couldn’t join a troop 
till you’d shown you was tryin’ to keep the Scout 
laws, you know.” 

“ What laws ? We can tie sailor knots ’n’ 
things like that, ’n’ row, ’n’ swim, ’n’ cook,” Tom 
declared eagerly. 

“ I’ll give you the Scout book that tells all 
you have to learn, an’ what you can do to win 
honours.” 

“ Honours ? Is them the things some Scouts 
wear on their sleeves? ” Jim demanded, his eyes 
full of interest. 

Billy explained about honours, badges, and 
medals, the two boys listening with absorbed 
interest. When he rose to go they urged him 
to come again. 

“ Jim’s missin’ all the fun, besides the pains 
he’s havin’ in that leg o’ his,” Tom said. “ It’s 
hard luck fer Jim.” 

“ An’ Tom’s a-missin’ them same things stayin’ 
here with me,” Jim added. 

“ That’s nothin’,” muttered Tom, a shame- 
faced grin on his rough face as he looked at his 
friend. 

“ You know,” Billy said, looking from one to 
the other, “ if you was a Scout, Jim, you’d have 
a medal as well as a broken leg.” 

“Me — a medal — what fer?” 

“ Savin’ a life,” said Billy. “ An’ you, Tom-- 


168 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


I reckon mebbe you’d have an honour for stayin’ 
an’ nursin’ him these three days.” 

The two boys looked at each other again, and 
in their faces were a pride and delight so simple 
and sincere that Billy felt a lump in his throat. 

“ Why, why then, we — we’re almost Scouts 
now, ain’t we, Billy Bums ? ” Tom stammered, 
his eyes shining. 

Billy talked over this interview with Barney 
and the Scout Master that night, and both of 
them listened thoughtfully — Barney in genuine 
amazement. 

‘'We must find some way to help them,” the 
Master said. “ I’ll have a talk with Mr. Hart 
about it.” 

This, like the previous day, was crowded with 
“ good turns ” for the Scouts, who were in 
constant demand in the city of tents. But 
as there were several hundred Scouts now on 
duty, none of them need be on duty all the time, 
now that those in charge had the situation well 
in hand; and the boys of Troop 5 had an oppor- 
tunity to see and hear many interesting things. 
They saw General Sickles, the only remaining 
corps commander of the Union army, sitting on 
the piazza of a house on the field, and holding 
a continuous reception. Not an old soldier — 
in blue or grey — passed that house without stop- 
ping to shake hands with the old general. 

“ Say, son,” a blue-coated veteran laid a hand 
on Jack Harding’s arm and pointed to a wheat 
field close by, “ that’s where General Sickles lost 



RIGHT ON THAT RIDGE, YONDER 




OLD ACQUAINTANCES 169 

his leg fifty years ago — right on that ridge yon- 
der — and he’s here to-day — ninety-three years 
old. Hear ’em — hear the Johnny Rebs givin’ 
him their old yell ? ” Again the sharp ringing 
yell rose on the hot summer air, .drowning the 
enthusiastic cheers of the Union men. 

‘'Were you in the battle, too, sir?” Jack 
asked. 

“ I sure was, son. I was in it two days. Com- 
rades on each side of me fell, but I got only 
a clip on my wrist from a spent ball, and a cut 
in my head — nothing to speak of. But I was 
here, all right.” 

The old man passed on and Jack drew a deep 
breath. He and Billy were with Wilson Hard- 
ing and Don Frazer and a couple of younger 
boys. 

As they went on, they heard a sudden outburst 
of cheers, shouts, and yells. Louder and louder 
the tumult swelled, and everybody pressed for^ 
ward to see what it meant — the boys running 
with the rest. 

“Oh, look — look! It’s the Stonewall Jackson 
brigade — see their old battle flag ? ” cried Wil- 
son. “ Say, hoys! This is a sight worth seeing. 
I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” 

The crowd separated to make way for a hun- 
dred old men, grey-headed, grey-clad. Some 
walked feebly, but every head was lifted proudly, 
and every old face was alight with boundless 
enthusiasm. 

“ Oh!'' breathed Jack, as the last grey soldier 


170 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


passed, “ How they love that flag ! I wonder 
who the colonel was — leading them/^ 

An old soldier, overhearing the question, an- 
swered it. “ That was Colonel Chew. He was 
Stonewall Jackson’s chief aid.” 

Thank you, sir.” Jack’s hand went up in 
salute. “ It’s great to have seen them.” 

‘‘ Great for lads like you,” the old soldier re- 
turned, “ but you can’t know what it is to us. 
I served under Robert E. Lee — the best soldier 
God ever made.” He lifted his faded old hat — 
Jack’s quick eyes saw two bullet holes in it — and 
passed on. 

It was barely light the next morning when a 
regimental band went marching down the Long 
Lane playing in succession, Yankee Doodle, Hail 
Columbia, and Dixie. Tired men tried to close 
their ears to the first two, but there was no re- 
sisting the alluring strains of Dixie. Another 
band followed the first, and another followed 
that, playing all the stirring old battle hymns; 
and after the bands came the drum and fife 
corps. 

Out of one tent after another then, came the 
old men in grey and blue, falling into step behind 
the bands, and singing, some one tune, some an- 
other, but all helping to swell the tumult of 
martial music. 

With an ever-increasing following, the bands 
went on to serenade General Liggett, the regular 
officer in charge. Tired as he was, General Lig- 
gett was hardly in a state of mind to appreciate 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 171 

the honour intended. From his cot he shook 
his fist at his admirers and bade them begone. 
But there was no more sleep for any one in camp 
after that. By five o’clock, near a dozen bands 
were waking the echoes with the old battle songs, 
and they kept it up till breakfast time. 

Shortly before eleven, there was a rush to 
the railroad station to greet the President. 
Every Democrat wanted to have a share in that 
greeting, and many who were not Democrats 
helped to swell the chorus of cheers while the 
guns boomed out a salute. The great tent was 
packed to its utmost capacity, and with the first 
notes of Hail to the Chief, 10,000 men rose as 
one to give the President his second welcome, 
and when he spoke, they listened in a silence 
that would miss no word, to the inspiring mes- 
sage that he brought them. 

The boys of Troop 5 hurried straight from the 
tent to General Liggett’s headquarters, and were 
fortunate enough to be in good positions near the 
tent, when, at twelve o’clock, a silver-sweet bugle 
call floated over the city of tents, and the great 
field where history had been made half a cen- 
tury before. At that signal, the big silk flag 
before headquarters slipped slowly down to half- 
mast. General Liggett, in uniform of spotless 
white, faced the flag and stood at attention, 
every member of Troop 5 following his ex- 
ample. 

The guns of the battery thundered in salute, 
and every enlisted man in camp, whatever he 


172 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


was doing, instantly faced the flag, heels together, 
head lifted, the war-worn soldiers in blue and 
in grey, standing likewise at attention. Forty- 
eight times the great guns boomed, echoing and 
re-echoing across the old battlefield, while over 
the silent assemblage fell the hush of peace — a 
strange, solemn, heart-thrilling silence, full of 
memories of the past — hopes of the future. For 
five minutes the silence lasted, and so the regular 
army paid its impressive tribute to those who 
died at Gettysburg fifty years ago. 

Then once again the bugle notes rang out, 
clear and joyous this time, the silken flag leaped 
up the staff, a little breeze catching it, and 
sweeping it out in beautiful lines against the 
blue of the summer sky. The silent multitudes 
stirred, drew long breaths, and turned away to 
the duties and pleasures of the day. But deep 
in the hearts of some of the boys of Troop 5 
was the memory of a splendid sacred moment 
that they never could forget. Some of them felt 
afterwards that those five minutes set the seal 
to this great occasion — were, for them, the real 
ending of it— though the hours that followed 
held much of interest, and brought opportunity 
for many a kind turn still. 

But the old men seemed to fade away rapidly 
after that — thousands of them crowding the de- 
parting trains. They had met old comrades and 
old foes — who were foes no. longer — they had 
seen again this great battlefield of which they 
had dreamt through more than half a lifetime. 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 173 

Some of them had looked, through a mist of 
tears, upon old battle flags that they had never 
expected to see again. They had met the Presi- 
dent of their country — their united country. 
They were weary with the strain of it all, and 
now they longed to get back to the quiet home- 
places from which most of them would journey 
never again. 

Jack and Billy had been helping some of the 
old men who were going — carrying their bags, 
and finding seats for them in the crowded cars. 
When, after many delays, the long train pulled 
slowly out, the boys stopped on the platform to 
wave their hands to old men at the windows 
who leaned out, waving hats and hands and 
handkerchiefs. 

“ Three cheers for the Boy Scouts ! ” one old 
fellow sung out, and the cheers w^ere given with 
a hearty good-will, car after car joining in ; while 
other Scouts gathered about Jack and Billy, and 
all stood bareheaded as they acknowledged the 
greeting. Some of the boys were laughing, but 
not the two from Troop 5; they felt more like 
crying, though they hoped that the others did 
not guess that. 

As the last car passed and the boys turned 
away. Jack said in a low tone, Billy, it must 
be pretty tough to be old — real old — like some 
of these veterans. I — I never — sensed it, don’t 
you know — till to-day. Everything’s behind 
them now — nothing to look forward to.” 

Billy nodded in his dumb fashion, but Jack 


174 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


didn't mind that his friend had no words. He 
knew that Billy understood and felt very much 
as he did. 

The boys found the Scout Master in consulta- 
tion with Mr. Hart and Mr. Harding over the 
problem of getting the boys back to Washington. 
As Jack and Billy joined them, Mr. Hart was 
saying, “ There’s no possibility of finding seats 
in any of the trains going out to-day. They’ll 
all be crowded to the limit.” 

The Master stopped an officer who was pass- 
ing. “ How about it, captain — will there be 
trains enough to-morrow for all that can’t get 
away to-day ? ” 

“ Possibly,” the captain answered, “ but it is 
also possible that no extra trains may be run 
to-morrow. How about these Scouts of yours? 
Do they march back ? ” 

“ Not if there is any other way.” 

The captain’s keen eyes swept over the boys 
in khaki, and he smiled. 

“Troop 5, D. C.,” he said. “I believe you 
are the boys who set up some tents for us the 
other day — set ’em up twice f 

The boys laughed and admitted the fact. 

The captain turned again to the Scout Mas- 
ter. “ They’re peaches — these boys of yours. 
You’ve a right to be proud of them. If I had 
my way every one of them should have a medal 
for honourable service in this celebration. I 
can’t supply the medals, but — How many are 
there in your troop ? ” 


OLD ACQUAINTANCES 175 

Nineteen here/' the Master replied. Mr. 

Hart will take five in his car.” 

“ Fourteen, then, to be provided for. I think 
we can manage transportation for that number, 
and their Scout Master, too. I’ll see about it 
at once,” and the captain passed on. 

Ten minutes later he returned. Tell your 
Scout Master,” he said, “ that it is all arranged 
— fifteen seats reserved for you in a train leaving 
at five o’clock. Be on hand.” 

A little later the tents of Troop 5 were down, 
and carried to the freight station, and the boys 
separated into groups, some going in one direc- 
tion and some in another. Jack and Billy, wan- 
dering over the cemetery, saw Barney standing 
before the Lincoln monument. 

“ Come on over,” said Jack, but Billy drew 
back. 

“ No, leave him alone,” he answered. 

“ Why ? ” Jack questioned. 

“ Oh — ’cause,” muttered Billy. Then he told 
Jack about Barney’s first book. You see he 
hadn’t ever read a book before — I mean, what 
the Master calls a ‘ real ’ book. He had that 
Life of Lincoln a long time before he read it; 
but one night he took it up and read till mornin’ 
— finished the whole book, and it’s a big one. 
And he’s been diff’rent ever since. He thinks 
Lincoln the greatest man that ever lived, I 
reckon.” 

“ I’m glad you told me, Billy. I shall like 
Barney better now,” Jack said gravely. 


XIII 


WINTER DOINGS IN NEW ENGLAND 

O NE day in early October, Billy went to 
see Jack. 

“ You’ll find him in the library,” the 
maid said, and Billy hurried eagerly to meet his 
friend. Jack was standing by the library win- 
dow, his hands in his pockets, looking listlessly 
out into the street. He turned and nodded as 
Billy entered, and held out his hand, but he did 
not speak, and turned again to the window. 

Billy stood for a moment, surprised and bewil- 
dered. Jack never before had met him in this 
fashion — what could it mean? He wanted to 
hurry away, but something kept him from doing 
that, and he dropped into the nearest chair. 
After a moment Jack turned and came over to 
him, and Billy saw that his face was white and 
grave. He spoke in a low tone. 

Is — is anything — wrong. Jack?” 

Jack nodded. “ It’s my mother — she’s sick. 
The doctor says she must go to Southern France 
for a year.” 

Billy caught Jack’s hand and wrung it silently. 
His heart ached for his friend, but he did not 
know how to express his sympathy. Jack under- 
176 


WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND 177 


stood, however, and a shadow of his old friendly- 
smile swept over his face. 

“ I know, Billy,"’ he said. I know you’re 
sorry, but I — I can’t talk about it.” _ He hurried 
out of the room then, and Billy went away 
heavy-hearted. 

Two days later Mr. Harding sent for him. 
Billy found him in the library this time. He 
shook the boy’s hand warmly, and then sat for 
a moment, searching his face with keen, grave 
eyes. 

Billy,” he said, you know what trouble we 
are in ? ” 

‘^Yes, sir.” 

“ Mrs. Harding and Elsie will sail on Satur- 
day, and I am called to Alaska on business that 
may detain me for several months. As Wilson 
is at college, Jack would be alone here with the 
servants, and, of course, I can’t leave him so. 
Besides — he is not well. The doctor is some- 
what anxious about him, and wants him to live 
out of doors as much as possible, in a bracing 
climate, for a year. So I thought of you, and 
I am going to ask a great kindness of you — for 
Jack. There is no one outside of the family 
for whom he cares as much as he does for you. 
Billy, would you be willing to go to New Hamp- 
shire and stay there with Jack for six months 
or a year? Don’t answer hastily. Think it 
over.” 

I don’t have to think it over. I’ll be glad 
to go. There’s nothing I can do for Jack that 


178 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


I won’t be glad to do. You — ^you don’t know 
what Jack’s done for me, Mr. Harding. Nothing 
I could ever do for him would make up for that 
— nothing ! ” Billy replied warmly. 

Mr. Harding smiled. ‘‘ It is a great trust I 
am committing to you, Billy.” 

I know,” the boy answered gravely, ‘‘ and — 
and you can trust me.” 

“ I am sure of that. But, Billy, you haven’t 
thought what it will cost you. You will lose a 
year of school — that means a great deal at your 
age — and you must give up your work. Besides, 
you will probably find it very lonely up there 
in the country all winter ” 

‘‘ Not with Jack,” Billy put in. But— he'd 

be lonely with only me, I’m afraid.” 

Yes, he would, of course. But Jack is a 
brave little chap, and he will, I am sure, face 
conditions bravely, and do all he can to make 
it pleasant for you.” 

“ Oh, me — that’s nothin’. I mean, you needn’t 
worry ’bout me, if only I can make it all right 
for Jack.” 

“ I won’t take time now to tell you why I have 
to be in Alaska — Jack will explain that. You 
will stay in our cottage at Jackson, New Hamp- 
shire, and John Martin and his wife will be there 
to keep house for you. I’ll make all arrange- 
ments for your comfort, and Mr. Marshall will 
talk them over with you and Jack.” 

“ When shall we go ? ” Billy asked. 

“ Next Wednesday. I want to see you off 


AVINTER IN NEW ENGLAND 179 


before I leave.’^ Mr. Harding rose as he spoke, 
and laid a hand on Billy's shoulder. “ You are 
doing for me — and for Jack — what no one else 
could do. Jack's mother will be satisfied — she 
says she can trust you.” 

‘‘ She can. Tell her I'll do my best,” the boy 
answered, his eyes looking straight into the grave 
eyes of the man. 

I'm sure she can, Billy. You will never be 
sorry for this.” 

“Sorry? If 'twasn't for her bein' sick, an’ 
Jack not — well, I’d call it the biggest luck ever, 
for me,” Billy answered. 

The next week was a whirl of excitement and 
work for Billy Burns. He had conferences with 
the Scout Master, and purchases to make of 
warmer winter clothing than he would have 
needed in Washington. Then there were all the 
Scouts to see and say good-bye to, and Grant 
Wilmer, and the poor chap at the hospital, who 
was really beginning to gain a little. Charlie 
Dufif hung around him, grumbling about his 
going, yet plainly grieving over it, and Barney — 
Barney said little, but now Billy realised as he 
had not before, what Barney’s friendship for him 
really was. He was sorry for Barney, and spent 
with him as much time as he could. 

The train left at seven o’clock in the morning, 
and when Jack and Billy, with Mr. Harding, 
reached the big station, there was Troop 5 drawn 
up in line to receive them. Jack choked up at 
that, and even Billy felt a lump in his throat. 


180 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


But Finnegan saved the situation with a joke — 
though his warm Irish heart was heavy just 
then — and all the young faces under the khaki 
hats were grave, as the boys stood by the last 
gate and watched the two walk down the long 
platform to the car. And afterwards it was Tub 
Miller (who hated letter- writing) who suggested 
that each boy in the troop should write one letter 
a month to the two absent members, and keep 
them posted as to troop doings. 

That journey was like a dream to Billy. If 
Jack had not looked so white and sad, it would 
have been a delight to Billy to ride in the Pull- 
man over a route all new to him — to go into the 
diner for meals — to have new magazines to read 
when he was tired of looking out. And Jack 
was brave and unselfish — he tried his best to 
banish sad thoughts and be cheerful for Billy’s 
sake. At Boston they took a taxi to the hotel, 
where a room had been reserved for them, and 
that, too, was a wonderful experience to Billy 
Burns. He felt as if he must be dreaming. Mr. 
Harding had told them to stay three days in 
Boston, so that Billy might see a little of the 
city, and Jack enjoyed taking him about. 

Then came the short trip from Boston to 
Glen, N. H., where John Martin met them with 
a carriage for the three-mile drive to Jackson. 
At the Harding cottage, Mrs. Martin had supper 
ready, but hungry though he was, Billy could 
hardly eat. 

“ Seems like they’re callin’ me — the moun- 


WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND 181 


tains,” he said, his eyes following the great 
sweeping lines to the cloud-capped summits. 

“ We’ll do some climbing before long,” Jack 
promised. 

But for weeks they did no climbing. Mr. 
Harding had ordered two horses for them. Jack 
always rode here in the summer, but Billy had 
to learn. He learned quickly, however, and then 
the two had a long ride every pleasant day. 
Long walks they took, too, but Billy always 
watched Jack and would not let him go too far. 
As the doctor wanted Jack to sleep outdoors, 
John Martin had boarded up one end of the 
side piazza, the rest of which was screened, and 
placed two cots there for the boys. 

“ Seems mighty queer to me — sleepin’ out in 
the cold in frosty weather like this, but that’s 
your father’s orders,” Martin said, the first 
night. 

“Does feel kind of shivery, doesn’t it?” Jack 
agreed, “ but we’ll be warm in our sleeping-bags 
and with these warm wool covers and soap- 
stones.” 

Privately, Billy felt dubious. It was all right, 
of course, to sleep out in camp, in summer, but 

up here in fall and winter . However, if it 

was best for Jack, Billy would have slept on an 
iceberg without complaint. As a matter of fact, 
both boys liked the outdoor sleeping. They were 
warm and comfortable, and awoke in the morn- 
ing feeling fit for anything, and with real moun- 
tain appetites. 


182 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“ Gee ! Billy exclaimed one morning, “ seems 
like I’m eating for two, these days.” 

Jack laughed out. Me too. Sleeping out 
makes us hungry.” 

“ Reckon I’d better sleep in, then, else Mrs. 
Martin will have to hire a cook to help her.” 

“ Don’t you worry. I c’n keep up with your 
eatin’,” Mrs. Martin said, bringing in another 
plate of batter cakes. '' It’s when you don’t eat 
that I get worried.” 

“Ye haven’t had to worry that way ’bout me 
— ^yet,” Billy replied with a grin. He was happy 
that morning because Jack was. And Jack was 
happy because the last letter from his sister 
Elsie had told him that their mother was already 
gaining and looked much better. 

The boys were always at the box when the 
postman came. That morning he brought a 
handful of letters. 

“ You two chaps sure do get a heap of mail,” 
he laughed, as he handed it out. “ Ain’t love- 
letters, be they ? ” 

“ Some of mine are — this is,” Jack cried, hold- 
ing up one with a French postmark. 

“ Yes, I reckon that is,” the man replied 
soberly. Everybody in the neighbourhood knew 
and loved Mrs. Harding, and they knew why 
she was abroad now, and why Jack was here. 

Their letters read, the boys studied until 
eleven — then went for a walk. Mr. Marshall 
had laid out for them a course of study, and 
was to send them monthly examination papers 


WINTER IN NEW ENGLAND 183 


to be duly filled out and mailed to him. In this 
way he thought they might keep up with their 
classes and not have too much idle time on their 
hands. In the afternoons they rode or played 
tennis, or sometimes baseball with the village 
boys. The evenings were the hardest times for 
Jack. Billy racked his brains to find interesting 
things to do or to talk about, so that the grave, 
lonely look would not come into Jack’s eyes. 
They talked much about Alaska, and tried to 
picture to themselves the places and people that 
Mr. Harding was seeing. Jack had told all he 
knew about the Alaska business — how his father 
owned a big tract of coal land up there, and of 
the trouble there had been with one of the great 
corporations that was claiming some of his most 
valuable holdings. 

“ Father’s suing the company,” Jack explained. 

But they’ve got some mighty smart lawyers 
on the job, the kind of lawyers that stop at 
nothing to win for their clients. But we’ve good 
lawyers, too, and father is sure we’ll win out 
because we’ve got right on our side. There’d be 
no question about it if the other side would play 
fair, but that’s just what they won’t do if they 
can win by unfair means.” 

Billy asked many questions because it kept 
Jack interested — kept him from worrying about 
his mother. So, night after night, the two boys 
discussed the case,” and pored over a big book 
about Alaska that they found in the Jackson 
library. It had a map, and by this they fol- 


184 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


lowed Mr. Harding from place to place. He 
wrote often to Jack and always sent some mes- 
sage to Billy. Once he wrote a whole letter to 
Billy. Billy was very proud of that letter. 

So the days and weeks slipped by. As the 
letters from France continued to tell of slow 
but sure improvement in Mrs. Harding’s health, 
the anxious brooding look came less often into 
Jack’s eyes, and his thin face took on a little 
flesh and colour. He could walk farther without 
being tired, and he began to show interest in 
things as he had not done before. 


XIV 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 
KINGS went well after that. Elsie’s let- 



ters continued to bring good reports of 


^ her mother’s condition, and Mr. Hard- 
ing’s were hopeful as to the result of the legal 
proceedings. He could not get away probably, 
until spring, but would be in Boston in the early 
summer, and would surely run up to Jackson 
then. The first December letter was registered 
and contained fifty dollars “ for Christmas ex- 
penses for the two of you,” Mr. Harding wrote. 
Billy’s eyes opened wide in surprise when Jack 
showed him that money. 

“All that, for Christmas?” he cried. 

‘‘ Why not ? ” Jack answered. Then his face 
grew grave. We have such jolly Christmas 

times at home,” he said. ‘‘ Mother thinks of 

the nicest things. Shell miss the home Christ- 
mas. I’m going to write her a long letter to- 
morrow, and one to Elsie, too, to tell her what 

to get mother for me.” 

Billy listened soberly, but he brightened up as 
Jack ran on, '' We’ll have the jolliest time we 
can here — everything trimmed up with greens, 
and all the funny things we can think of. I’ve 
got to cram the day full, Billy Burns, to help me 


185 


186 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


forget what it would be if were all together at 
home. Martin will help us get the greens — the 
woods are full of them. I wish we could go 
down to Boston and buy the presents, but I 
reckon we’ll have to order by mail.” 

Billy was silent. He knew nothing about such 
a celebration as Jack was planning. When there 
came a pause, he said, half to himself : 

I’ve seen Christmas trees in the shop win- 
dows, and last year we had one at the Home. 
It was pretty. There was a popcorn ball and a 
bag of candy for every boy.” 

Jack stared at him. And you never had a 
home Christmas ! ” he cried, throwing his arm 
over his friend’s shoulders. Well, Billy Burns, 
you are going to, this time — bet your life on 
that ! ” 

Jack wasted no time after that. The Decem- 
ber days were too short for all he wanted to do. 
There was much poring over catalogues, much 
writing of letters enclosing money orders, much 
pondering over how to get the most out of that 
fifty dollars, which to Billy seemed such an 
immense sum — for Jack’s plans grew and grew, 
until Billy wondered if, in the end, he would 
not include every man, woman, and child in 
Jackson, in his Christmas list. There were no 
"‘awf’ly poor folks,” he said, in Jackson, but 
there were so many that never had anything but 
what they couldn’t do without — like common 
food and cheap clothes. Usually they had a 
Christmas celebration at the village church, but 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 187 


this time they were not going to — they were 
going to use the money for a hospital instead, 
so 

Suddenly Jack sprang up with a shout. ‘‘ Billy, 
Billy, I’ve got it. I know what we’ll do. Weill 
have a tree for everybody in Jackson, and there 
it is ! ” 

“ Wh-where ? ” Billy’s bewildered eyes, fol- 
lowing Jack’s pointing finger, fell on a great, 
beautiful evergreen, growing about fifty feet from 
the windows of the living-room. “ You don’t 
mean to cut that down ! ” he cried, for Billy had 
become an ardent tree-lover in the past two 
years. 

“Cut it down? Well, I guess not!'' Jack 
w’as a tree-lover, too. “ No, sir-ee, but we can 
use it for a Christmas tree without hurting it 
a bit. Oh, I wish Will was here — he’d find a way 
to cover it with electric lights — I know he would. 
But if it isn’t stormy or windy, I guess we can 
light it up with candles, all right. And, oh, I 
hope the snow will last — it will be so much pret- 
tier with snow ! And we’ll have candy bags for 
everybody — good candy, too — and a little present 
for every Scout ” 

“ Hard on their sisters,” Billy interposed. 

” Oh! ’Twould be, wouldn’t it? Well, then, 
I suppose we must have something for the girls, 
too. Wish Elsie was here to help about that.” 

“ Can’t Mrs. Martin ? ” 

“ She’ll have to. We must count up the girls, 
and see how much we can allow for each one.” 


188 BILLY BUTINS OF TROOP 5 


It took the three of them all of one day to 
trim the big living-room to suit Jack; but when 
it was done he was more than pleased. Mrs. 
Martin said it would be dreadfully mussy in a 
few days, but she smiled as she said it. There 
were wreaths in all the windows, and the piazza 
on the Christmas tree side was like a bit of the 
woods — so green and fragrant. Martin found 
three great logs for the fireplace, and had them 
ready for the Christmas fire, and all the time his 
wife was busy in the kitchen, from which spicy 
odours floated in to mingle with those other spicy 
odours from the greens. 

The boys gilded or silvered dozens of pine 
cones and acorns and strung them on cords, they 
polished crimson apples till they shone, and made 
long chains of red cranberries — all these for the 
Christmas tree. Candies and holders and net 
bags for candy were sent from Boston, but the 
holders had to be carefully fastened to the 
branches of the big tree — a job for Martin, that 
— and the bags had to be filled. Billy helped 
Jack wrap the gifts for the girls and boys and 
tie them with red ribbons, or fasten them with 
gay little stickers, and write the name on each 
one. It was a big undertaking for a boy who, 
always before, had had all this Christmas work 
done for him — but Jack managed it, and he 
never guessed how much Billy enjoyed helping 
with it all. 

Jack drew a long breath of satisfaction when 
the last gift was placed in the big box. “ There ! 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 189 

he said. That’s one good job done. We can’t 
put them on the tree till Christmas Day because 
you know it might be stormy.” 

“If it is, hope it’ll be snow, not rain,” re- 
turned Billy. 

“ Can’t rain unless we have a warm spell. A 
little snow would almost make it prettier, but. a 
heavy one would cover everything up and put 
out the candles.” 

“ What shall we do to-morrow ? ” Billy in- 
quired. 

“ Oh, there’ll be lots of last things. It’s Christ- 
mas Day that will be the hardest — everything 
done, and all day to wait for the fun. Wish 
somebody would send us a Christmas box just 
chuck full of little things that it would take lots 
of time to unwrap — don’t you ? ” 

“ I don’t mind,” Billy returned. “ You see, 
Jack, it’s all so jolly for me. I like every bit 
of it, and it isn’t lonesome for me, as it is for 
you.” 

Jack looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. 
Then he said, “ I’m so glad, Billy, that it’s jolly 
for you, and see here — have you thought what 
a lot easier it is for me with you here ? I ” — he 
choked up suddenly — “ I — don’t know what I’d 
do without you, Billy Burns ! ” 

Billy did not say a word — he couldn’t, but his 
honest eyes looked the love and loyalty he would 
have spoken had he known how, and Jack found 
his silent sympathy very comforting; for it was 


190 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


hard — this first Christmas away from all his 
own people. 

Christmas morning Jack had evidence that 
his own people had not forgotten him. It seemed 
that Martin had left orders at the Post Office, 
and all Christmas packages had been delivered 
to him, so, after the particularly appetizing 
breakfast that Mrs. Martin served, her 
husband brought out a box that had come 
from France. Jack’s mother and sister had evi- 
dently thought of some things that he might 
want. Billy sat by, watching him as he un- 
wrapped one thing after another, and wondered 
what it would be like to have such a Christmas 
box from a mother and sister — a box with loving 
messages, or merry jingles, or greetings, tucked 
in with each smallest gift. Billy couldn’t be 
glad enough that that box had come for Jack. 
There were two packages in it for him — one a 
beautifully illustrated book about that part of 
France, and the other, a silver watch and chain. 
It was a pity that the two who had sent these 
gifts could not have seen Billy’s eyes when he 
looked at them. 

When the box was empty, and the boys had 
gathered up the paper and cord. Jack said : “ It 
was jolly — that box. WeVe been most an hour 
over it. Wish we had another to open — to fill 
up the time — don’t you ? ” 

IVe got enough,” Billy answered, and then 
Martin came in and deposited a second box be- 
side Jack. 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 191 


“ Another? Where from? Jack shouted. “ Oh, 
it's from Washington ! Billy, I bet it’s from the 
troop. If it is it will be full of fun.” He lifted 
off the excelsior that lay on top — Martin had 
removed the cover — and read on the first pack- 
age, “ Billy Burns.” 

“Hurry and open it, Billy — do!” 

“ You open it,” Billy said. 

“ No, each one must open his own,” Jack de- 
clared, and Billy broke the string, disclosing a 
jumping-jack, with Christmas greeting from Tub 
Miller. The next, marked “ A bugle for Jack,” 
was a red and green horn half a yard long, from 
Don Frazer. They went on, pulling out the 
foolish, funny things with a joke or a greeting 
tied to each one, and laughing over them till 
they found at the bottom, a big picture of the 
whole troop — except the two to whom it was 
sent. 

“ Oh, that’s fine! ” Jack cried. “ Isn’t the Scout 
Master’s picture splendid? Looks just like him. 
And Tub Miller — he’s fatter than ever. And 
look, will you — at Finnegan’s halo ! ” 

“ And his grin,” put in Billy. 

“ Don’s is good — only awf’ly sober. Gee, that 
looks good to me, Billy Burns,” Jack cried at 
last, setting the picture on the mantelpiece. 
“ Won’t the Jackson Scouts like to see that 
though? ’Twould have been enough if they’d 
sent nothing but the picture, but it was fun to 
have all the joke-things, too. I believe that’s 
all.” He began gathering up the papers from 


192 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


the floor. “ Oh, no, here’s one more — for 
you.” 

Billy took the little box and opened it with a 
grin, anticipating another joke; but it was a 
fountain pen, from Barney Doyle. 

“ Good old Barney,” he said under his breath. 

“ That’s a nice thing to have — it’s a good 
make, too,” Jack was saying. 

When all the litter had been thrown on the 
fire, Jack wandered restlessly from window to 
window until Billy proposed a walk. 

“ All right, only let’s wait till the postman 
comes. Maybe we’ll get some Christmas letters. 
It’s most time for the mail. Come on out and 
watch for him.” 

They had not long to wait. Jack’s quick eyes 
caught the first glimpse of the old covered buggy 
crawling up the steep mountain road. 

He’s got a passenger this morning,” Billy 
remarked. 

Uh, huh.” Jack was not interested in the post- 
man’s passenger. Wish he’d hurry up that 
old nag of his.” 

He waved his hand impatiently as the buggy 
came around the last curve. The passenger 
seemed to be an old man wrapped in the post- 
man’s ancient buffalo robe. He was huddled 
against the side of the carriage in a shapeless 
heap. But Jack had eyes only for the mailbag, 
and the letters and papers the postman was hand- 
ing out of it. 

One from mother,” he exulted, '' and Elsie, 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 19S 


and that’s from Mr. Marshall — for us both, 
Billy.” He looked rapidly through the other 
letters, then cried out, “ And not a word from 
Wilson! I thought sure I’d get a letter from 
him.” He turned away, his face Very sober, 
then whirled about to cry another “ Merry Christ- 
mas ” to the postman. And then he stood still 
and stared, as the huddled figure in the buggy 
suddenly straightened up, flung aside the robe, 
and sprang nimbly out, crying, “ Merry Christ- 
mas yourself, kid — and Billy, too.” 

“ Oh — Wilson! ” Jack cried out, with such wel- 
come in face and voice that Billy turned abruptly, 
and made a dash for the house. Now Jack 
would be happy — he had some one of his own to 
keep Christmas with him. Billy was off for a 
long tramp before Jack remembered him again. 
But when he came back at noon, Wilson was. 
very kind and friendly. 

Jack is looking no end better,” he said. 
“ He’s been telling me what good care you’ve 
taken of him.” 

Billy muttered, “ I’ve only tried to keep him 
from getting tired, that’s all — I could do.” 

“ Much that’s all 1 He’s a brick, Wilson — a 
regular brick!” Jack cried. 

Mrs. Martin surpassed herself on that Christ- 
mas dinner, and the three boys did full justice 
to it. Then they set to work, trimming the big 
tree. Wilson entered heartily into all the plans, 
and worked as hard as any one. 

“ It’s mighty pretty,” he declared, when all 


194 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


was done. “ It was a bright idea to trim it with 
all those woodsy things instead of tinsel and shop 
stuff.” 

“ Yes, the shop-stuff wouldn’t — wouldn’t fit a 
splendid great growing tree like this, would it ? ” 
Jack replied. “ It was such fun. Will, making 
all those things, and getting the greens from the 
woods — lots more fun than buying them in a 
city market. It seemed more Christmas-y some- 
how.” 

“ Well, what now ? ” Wilson demanded, as 
Jack stood looking about the big piazza in its 
Christmas array. “ You can’t find room for any 
more green stuff there.” 

N-no, but. Will, there’s the old flag up attic. 
I was thinking we might put that up there over 
the door.” 

Wilson laughed out, and gave Jack a poke in 
the ribs. “ Oh, you little red-hot-patriot-Scout ! ” 
he cried. “ Might have known you wouldn’t be 
satisfied without another flag somewhere. S’pose 
you run that up every morning?” he glanced at 
the flag waving from its high staff at the front 
of the cottage. 

‘'Why, of course!” Jack returned, joining in 
the laugh, but holding to his point. “ I’m going 
up to get that old flag.” 

“ He’s a great kid, isn’t he, Billy ? ” Wilson 
said as Jack disappeared, and Billy responded 
with quick emphasis : 

“ He’s the best ever ! ” 

Jack came back with the flag and Wilson put 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 195 


it up as Jack wanted it, and then suggested, “If 
the wind goes down at sunset, we can hang the 
Chinese lanterns around the porch/' 

“ So we can. I never thought of them. Elsie 
had a lot for her tennis party last ^mmer. I’ll 
hunt ’em up,” Jack returned. 

So, with one thing and another, the three boys 
kept busy, and there was little waiting time be- 
fore seven o’clock when the Jackson Scouts ar- 
rived, announcing that “ the girls an’ all are 
cornin’ — but we came on the double quick to get 
here first.” 

The bonfire was ready for lighting outside, 
but it was not to be lighted at first, lest it dim 
the glories of the Christmas tree. But when 
the approaching guests were seen far down the 
road, Martin and Wilson lighted the lanterns on 
the piazza (stationing two Scouts with swabs to 
keep watch of them), and -then, as the candles 
on the tree began to glow, there came a burst 
of joyous shouts from down the road. 

“ Oh, I wish Troop 5 was here. We’d all be 
singing the carols now,” Jack cried. 

“ Can’t these Scouts sing?” Wilson asked. 

“ Huh, not worth a cent — not like our troop,” 
Jack answered, but too low for any ear but his 
brother’s. 

“ Well, kid, I guess you’ve got all the young- 
sters in Jackson here to-night,” Wilson whis- 
pered, as he went forward with Jack to welcome 
the guests. 

Jack’s face was beaming. “ Fine, isn’t it ! ” 


196 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


he answered. We’ve got some extra candy 
bags if there aren’t enough on the tree for all.” 

Not only the youngsters, but many of their 
parents had come. The boys and Martin set 
chairs on the big piazza for the women, and the 
men sat on the steps if they wanted to, but the 
children wanted to be close to that wonderful 
tree. In the house it would not have seemed so 
wonderful, but, indeed, no ordinary room would 
have held it, with its lofty top and wide-spread- 
ing branches. But, standing as it did on the 
snow-covered ground under the silver gleam of 
the star-gemmed winter sky, its countless lights 
glowing and sparkling amid the green branches, 
lighting up the silver and gold and shining red 
of cones and acorns, apples, and cranberries, it 
was indeed a thing of beauty. For a while they 
were all content just to look at it, but suddenly 
one little girl held out her hands to two others. 

Let’s all take hold of hands and dance ’round 
it ! ” she cried. 

In an instant a big circle was formed, and 
’round and ’round the tree the children danced, 
singing, shouting, and laughing as they went. 
When they had tired of that, the candles had 
begun to die out here and there, so Wilson and 
Martin began taking down the gifts which Jack 
and Billy distributed. There was no lack — every 
boy and girl, big or little, had something, thanks 
to Jack’s careful planning, and, of course, every 
one had a bag of candy. 

As the last gifts were taken down, Martin 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 197 


lighted the bonfire, and, by its light, gifts were 
examined and compared, while, with the fra- 
grance of balsam and fir, were mingled odours of 
peppermint, wintergreen, and chocolate. Then, 
at a signal from Mrs. Martin, the -doors were 
thrown open, and everybody was invited into the 
big living-room where the great logs blazing in 
the fireplace flooded the room with light and 
heat. At a hint from Jack the Jackson Scouts 
ranged themselves by the kitchen doors, where 
Mrs. Martin supplied them with trays of cakes 
and coffee, with chocolate for the younger ones. 

The bonfire was still throwing golden lights 
across the snow, when Jack’s Christmas guests 
departed. Wilson and Jack stood in the door- 
way and Billy looking over their shoulders. In 
the light of the fire the Jackson Scouts suddenly 
halted, facing the cottage, and gave three vigor- 
ous cheers for Jack Harding, and then for Troop 
5, Washington, D. C. As they turned to follow 
the rest of the party, Billy caught the silver 
bugle from the wall, where it always hung, and 
thrust it into Jack’s hands. 

“ Play ' taps,’ ” he begged. They’ll like it.”* 

As Jack stepped out and began to play, with 
one accord his departing guests stopped to listen. 
Looking at him standing there, the fireglow 
falling on his happy face and slender figure, and 
gleaming on his silver bugle, Billy wondered if 
anybody ever had a happier Christmas Day than 
he had had. Jack had been happy, too. Billy 
could not be glad enough that Wilson had come 


198 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


to make him so. Yes, Jack had been very happy 
that day. 

He came in, his face glowing. '' Glad you 
thought of that, Billy. The Scouts did like it,” 
he said. “ It’s been a splendiferous Christmas, 

hasn’t it. Will, even ” But he could not finish 

that sentence. “ I reckon they all had a good 
time,” he ended after a moment. 

They sure did,” Wilson answered. “ But 
now bed’s the word for you. Say, don’t you 
want to sleep inside to-night? I don’t see how 
you keep warm out there.” 

''We do, don’t we, Billy?” Jack laughed. 
" Seems smothering now, inside.” 

" Warm as toast outside,” Billy added. 

Wilson hesitated. " Believe I’ll sleep on the 
couch down here to-night and keep you com- 
pany,” he said. 

" Oh, Mr. Wilson, I wouldn’t,” Mrs. Martin 
interposed. " I’ve made a fire in your room and 
the bed’s all ready. You’ll be lots more com- 
fortable there.” 

" Yes, you will,” Jack agreed. " I’m so sleepy 
I can’t hold my eyes open. You aren’t used to 
the cold as we are.” 

" All right then,” Wilson said. " Say, Mrs. 
Martin — breakfast at nine, not eight, to-morrow 
— the day after Christmas. We’ll need an extra 
hour of sleep.” 

" Very well. Nine o’clock it is, then,” Mrs. 
Martin agreed. 

Wilson said good-night and went upstairs 


A NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS 199 


yawning, and Jack and Billy were soon in bed, 
and asleep nearly as soon as they got there. 
Martin made his last rounds, to be sure that no 
dangerous embers were left, and silence and 
darkness fell over the cottage and cJVer the tall 
green tree with the gold and silver cones and 
garlands of red berries still draping its great 
branches. 


XV 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 

W ILSON stayed over the day after 
Christmas, but the next morning he 
departed. Jack and Billy rode to Glen 
with him, and when the train was gone, they 
looked at each other inquiringly. 

“Seems kind of flat, doesn’t it?” Jack said. 
“ All the Christmas fun over, and Wilson gone ! 
Wish we could think of something real jolly to 
do to-day.” 

“ Wish we could,” Billy agreed. 

“ Say — let’s go for a long tramp — take a lunch 
and make a day of it.” 

“ All right.” Billy cast a glance at the sky — it 
was clear and cloudless. “ Looks like good 
weather,” he added. 

“ Sure. Fine as silk. Come on.” 

The horses were feeling fine, and the boys 
were soon back at the cottage; but Mrs. Martin 
looked disturbed when Jack ordered lunch to be 
made ready at once. 

“ You ought not to go far,” she said. “ We’re 
liable to have more snow this time o’ year.” 

“iSnow! Look at that sky!” Jack scoffed. 
“ Don’t stop to talk, Mrs. M. We want to get 
off quick” 


200 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


201 


Mrs. Martin knew that it was useless to argue. 
When Jack wanted to do a thing, he never could 
see any reasons against it. 

“ Which way you goin’ ? '' she questioned, 
when she had the lunch ready and the boys were 
about to set ofif. 

“ Oh, I don’t know — over towards Eagle 
Mountain, I reckon,” Jack replied carelessly. 

Don’t you worry, Mrs. M. I know my way 
round all these hills — you know that.” 

‘‘ Yes — in summer,” she replied. ‘‘ It’s dif- 
ferent when everything’s covered with snow. I 
don’t re’ely think you ought to go. Jack — not up 
any mountain, anyway. Wait till to-morrow, an’ 
John will go with you,” she urged. 

Jack laughed out. “ I don’t need a nurse,” 
he mocked. ‘‘ If I do. I’ll take Billy. So long.” 

Mrs. Martin stood in the doorway looking 
after the boys, and her face was troubled. “ I 
do wish John was here,” she was thinking. 

Jack’s a dear boy, but he is some headstrong 
— there’s no denyin’ that — an’ Billy would follow 
him if ’twas to the world’s end, I do believe.” 

Jack was in high spirits, or at least he seemed 
to be. Perhaps just then he didn’t dare to be 
anything else, for the brief visit of his brother 
had brought back his homesick longing for the 
others who were so far away from him. But he 
was plucky. He didn’t mean Billy to guess how 
heavy his heart was. 

It was a glorious morning. The mountain air 
was like a strong tonic, and the boys walked for 


202 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


two hours before they began to be tired. Then, 
it was Billy who suggested a rest — he didn’t in- 
tend to let Jack overdo. 

“ Not yet,” Jack returned. There’s a splen- 
did view from a place half a mile further on. 
We can stop there for lunch.” 

So they went on; but Jack was really tired 
when they reached the place he had named — 
so tired that he was quite willing to rest for an 
hour. 

“ Gee ! Mrs. Martin sure does fix up dandy 
lunches,” Billy remarked, as he opened the box,, 
and examined its contents. 

“ Sure thing,” Jack agreed, setting his teeth 
into a chicken sandwich. “ Here’s enough for 
most three meals.” 

“ Maybe, for you. Fm hungry,” Billy replied 
as he gnawed a turkey leg. “ Look at that saucy 
chipmunk.” 

“ Reckon he’s hungry, too.” Jack tossed some 
crumbs to the little striped thing. “ Gee, see him 
gobble.” 

When, an hour later, they started on again, 
they went more slowly. The snow was deeper 
as they climbed, and the walking harder. There 
w^ere places where the snow was covered with a 
hard slippery crust, and other places in the 
woods where it was soft and deep. Billy glanced 
frequently at his friend, and finally* he ventured: 
'‘ Don’t you think we better turn back? We’re 
a long way from home, an’ it’s goin’ to be dark 
early. See — it’s cloudin’ up over yonder.” 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


203 


Jack gave a careless glance at the sky. 

Clouding up — nothing ! ” he flung back gaily. 

If you think Tm going to back out now, you’ve 
another guess coming. It can’t be more than 
half a mile to that old cabin I told you about, and 
I'm going to get there. You can go back if you 
want to,” he added with a laugh. “ Our tracks 
will lead you back to the road.” But well enough 
he knew Billy would not leave him. 

“ Huh ! ” was Billy’s only response, but he 
shook his head silently as he followed Jack. 
Those gathering clouds made him uneasy. 

Jack too trudged on in silence. He was really 
very tired — he knew that he ought to turn back, 
but there was a stubborn streak in him that some- 
times got him into trouble. And because he was 
tired he pushed on faster now, to get to the 
place he was determined to reach. 

There’s the cabin,” he cried at last. 

Mighty glad ter meet up with yer, Mr. 
Cabin ! ” Billy exclaimed in a tone of relief. 

It was a tumble-down place — a one-room shack 
with a single window, a door, and a dirt floor. 
Snow had sifted in through holes in the roof, but 
there was a good fireplace, and a pile of wood 
beside it. 

“ Let’s make a fire and have another eat,” 
Jack suggested, dropping down wearily on 
a box which was all the furniture ” in the 
place. 

Billy had a fire in a few minutes, and its 
warmth was welcome, for at that height the air 


204. BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


was keen, and a penetrating north wind was 
beginning to whistle through the woods. 

There’s a spring back here. Til get some 
water, ’’ Jack said, taking the empty thermos 
bottle from the lunch-box. 

“ You sit still — ril get it,’’ Billy ordered. 

While he was gone Jack did not stir, but he 
spoke cheerfully when Billy came back with the 
water. 

“ Wish we’d brought some coffee. There’s an 
old tea kettle yonder.” 

Billy peered into some tin boxes on a rough 
shelf. He found some hardtack, a little corn- 
meal, and some tea. 

“ That’ll do instead of coffee ? ” he asked, hold- 
ing out the latter. 

Jack sniffed scornfully. “Tea! I hate it — 
but it will be hot — so we might try it,” he said. 

Billy looked into the tea kettle and shook his 
head. “ Have to wash it out,” he remarked. 

They made the tea, and it was hot — that was 
the best that could be said for it. However, they 
had plenty to eat, and Jack felt better after the 
meal. 

“ I’d hate to have to sleep in that bunk, 
w'ouldn’t you ? ” he said. “ Looks as if wild 
things had spent the winter in it.” 

“ I’d rather sit on the box than try it,” Billy 
returned, and added, “ If you’re rested enough 
we better be goin’.” 

“ Reckon so,” Jack replied. “ I know a shorter 
way back.” 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


205 


Sure of it? '' 

“ Huh ! — sure. Am I sure of my own name ? ’’ 
Jack retorted with scorn. “ I’ve been up here 
’bout a thousand times.” 

“ But in summer. It must look different when 
everything’s covered with snow,” Billy reminded 
him. 

''Oh, come on — Mrs. Martin!” Jack jibed, 
and started off, and Billy quickly followed. 

For half an hour they made good progress; 
then they found themselves in a gully where the 
snow was deep and soft. 

" Gee — rusalem! Look out, Billy — there’s 
water under there,” Jack warned as he scram- 
bled hastily back. Then he stood still and looked 
about him. " I must have got off the track,” he 
admitted reluctantly. " I don’t remember any 
place like this on this path, and I’ve been over 
it no end of times.” 

" Better get back to the cabin and go home 
the way we came,” suggested Billy. 

But Jack was not willing to turn back. He 
spoke impatiently. " Nonsense ! It’s twice as 
far that way.” He turned to the right and went 
on. " We can’t be much off the path,” he de- 
clared. 

But when, fifteen minutes later, they found 
themselves in an impassable tangle of snow-laden 
evergreens, he had to admit that he had lost the 
trail. 

" Don’t see how I could be such a fool,” he 


206 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


grumbled. “ S’pose we’ll have to go back and 
take the long path now.” 

It was harder going back, for the way was 
uphill and steep. 

“ Ugh ! What a dismal old place it is ! ” Jack 
cried when at last they reached the cabin again. 
“We can’t blunder off this path, anyhow,” he 
added, as they set off again; but Billy noticed 
that he drew a long tired breath, and his face 
was very white. 

“ S’pose we couldn’t camp here to-night?” 
he offered doubtfully. 

Jack gave an impatient laugh. “ Camp here ! 
Well, maybe you’d like to sleep in that dirty 
bunk, but none of it for me, thank you. Vm 
going home.” 

For some time they trudged on in silence. 
There was no question now about the increasing 
cloudiness. The sun had disappeared, and 
though it was yet early in the afternoon, dark- 
ness was settling over the mountain. Presently 
Billy noticed a few scattering flakes of snow, 
but he said nothing. 

Suddenly, without a word. Jack dropped down 
in the snow. 

“ Wh- what’s the matter ? ” Billy stammered 
anxiously. 

“ I — don’t know. I — just — can’t — go any 
further,” Jack spoke slowly, between quick pant- 
ing breaths. 

“ You’re sick,” Billy exclaimed. 

“ No — just — tired. Rest — a bit.” 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


207 


They waited in silence, Billy’s eyes, full of 
keen anxiety, watching Jack’s white face. When 
Jack began to nod, Billy spoke gravely. 

“ This won’t do. Jack. It’s too cold for you 
to sit here. If you can’t go on, we must get 
back to the cabin.” 

Jack roused at that. ‘‘That dirty place? No, 
sir! Guess I can go on now.” 

But it was soon evident that he could not. 
He stopped and looked at Billy with bewildered 
eyes. “ I — don’t know what ails me, Billy.” He 
spoke almost pleadingly. “ I’m — I’m awful 
sorry, but I just can't go on.” 

“ No, you can’t. Listen, Jack — we must go 
back to the cabin — there’s no other way. I can 
carry you that far.” 

“ Oh, no, you can’t. It’s more than half a 
mile, and all uphill.” 

“ I can, and I must,” Billy spoke gravely. 
Then he dropped to his knees. “ Put your arms 
round my neck and hold on tight.” 

Jack obeyed, half giggling and half whimper- 
ing. “ Oh, dear — it’s so silly to be like this. And 
you can’t do it, Billy. I’m too heavy.” 

Billy did not answer. He got on his feet, 
holding Jack’s ankles, and carrying him on his 
back. It was a hard climb, though he was 
strong, and Jack light and slender. Again and 
again he had to stop and rest. Sometimes Jack 
stumbled on beside him, supported by Billy’s 
strong arm, and all the while Billy’s anxious eyes 
were noting the gathering darkness. Jack 


208 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


noticed nothing — said nothing — and this was so 
unlike him, that it made Billy wildly anxious. 
When for the third time they reached the cabin 
it was almost dark inside, for the trees grew 
close about it, but Billy quickly started a fire, 
for the cold was increasing. He cleaned out the 
bunk as well as he could, and going out, cut 
some spruce branches and spread them in the 
bunk with his coat on top of them. 

“ Now lie down there. Jack — it will be more 
comfortable than that box,” he said. 

Jack nodded and clambered into the bunk. 
Almost instantly he was asleep. 

Billy stood for a moment looking down at him ; 
then he ran out and gathered all the fuel he could 
find. It was hard to find, because of the snow, 
but the supply in the cabin was small. Fortu- 
nately, there was an old axe in the cabin, and 
Billy hacked and hewed with that as long as 
he could see, and all the time he was thinking and 
planning. When he had filled the kettle and the 
thermos bottle with fresh water, he stood again 
looking down at his friend. 

Jack was sick and he must have help. If he 
— Billy — should stay there with him, help might 
be long in coming, for Martin would not know 
where to look for him. Even if, as Billy hoped, 
it was simply exhaustion, still Jack must have 
food, and the cabin was too cold, even with the 

fire. And more snow was coming Billy 

shook his head in sorrowful perplexity. Then 
he called aloud: 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


209 


‘‘ Jack — Jack! ” 

Jack opened his heavy eyes. What is it, 
old Billy Burns ? he said with his friendly smile. 

“ Jack — listen.’’ The grave tone seemed to 
impress Jack. He sat up blinking in the firelight. 

“Jack, I’ve got to go back and get Martin. 
You are — not well. We can’t stay here with 
nothing to eat. We can’t keep warm here. Do 
you understand? I must leave you here and go 
for Martin.” 

Jack was again nodding drowsily. “ All right, 

Billy. Sorry — I — can’t — go ” His voice 

trailed off into silence, as he dropped back in 
the bunk. 

Billy hesitated. Minutes were precious; but 
suppose Jack should arouse later, and finding 
himself alone, wander out in the night? Billy 
found a pencil and an old letter in his pocket. 
Rapidly he wrote a message and pinned it to 
the side of the bunk. He fixed the fire to last 
as long as possible ; then, with a last wistful look 
at his friend, he went out, closing the door after 
him. Billy Burns had never in his life done a 
harder thing than this — to leave Jack sick and 
alone in that dreary cabin up on the mountain 
— but he must do it for Jack’s own sake. 

Outside it was almost dark. He pushed on 
as rapidly as he could, but he went carefully. He 
dared not think what an accident to him might 
mean for Jack — it would not bear thinking of. 
Fortunately the path was a wide, well-worn one, 
and the snow made it lighter. When he was ia 


210 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


doubt, his pocket flashlight helped to show the 
way. But the time seemed endless as he thought 
of the possibilities for Jack. Snow was still 
falling fitfully, and the cold was intense. Billy 
needed his heavy coat. He tied his handkerchief 
around his neck and stuffed his hands into his 
pockets. Once he tried to whistle, but he couldn’t 
keep that up — in silence he tramped on through 
the darkness, and he drew a long breath of relief 
when at last he reached the mountain road. He 
could go faster then, running much of the way, 
but always with that dark fear for Jack tugging 
at his big loyal heart. When at last he burst 
into the cottage, calling wildly for Martin, Mrs. 
Martin stared at him with white face and 
frightened eyes. 

'' Jack ? '' she gasped. 

He explained in few words, and as he did so, 
Martin himself came in. In breathless silence 
he stood and listened to what Billy had to say. 
Then he turned sharply to his wife, and cried 
out, '' Put up food and hot coffee — quick! Feed 
Billy.” 

Springing to the telephone, he called up two 
of his neighbours, and shouted, Get over here 
as quick’s the Lord will let ye, to go up on the 
mountain after Jack Harding. Quick, I tell 
ye.” 

It seemed as if he was all over that kitchen 
at the same time, gathering up what he thought 
might be needed, and shouting orders to his 
wdfe, before he flew out to the bam and har- 


ON THE MOUNTAIN 


211 


nessed two horses into the big wagon. By the 
time he drove to the door, the two neighbours 
he had summoned were there. 

“ Tumble in ! ” he ordered sharply, and as 
Billy followed them he growled at him, “ You 
ought to stay here, but I know it’s no use to 
tell ye to.’^ 

Then he sprang in himself, calling back over 
his shoulder to his wife, '' Have that doctor here 
when we get back.” 

Then they were off, to drive to the foot of the 
steep mountain trail, leave the team there, and 
climb as swiftly as might be to the cabin. 


XVI 


AN ORDEAL FOR JACK 

F or a long time after Billy left him, Jack 
lay silent and motionless. There was no 
sound in the cabin but the snapping and 
crackling of the fire, and that ceased as the fire 
died down to glowing embers. But outside, the 
wind whistled and howled, and the cold crept in 
through chinks in the log walls, and under the 
heavy door. Through the holes in the roof, the 
snow dropped silently, making soft white piles 
here and there on the dirt floor, and a tree at the 
end of the cabin scratched across the window at 
intervals, as the wind twisted and thrashed its 
branches. The wind grew stronger as the storm 
increased. It rattled the window and shook the 
door, and the cold grew ever more bitter. 

After a long while, Jack stirred uneasily and 
opened his eyes. He was shivering with the cold, 
but he felt better — his sleep had refreshed him. 
He sat up, looking about him in bewilderment. 
Where was he, or was he dreaming? And where 
was Billy? His head ached, and he could not 
remember clearly what had happened. Then he 
saw the paper that Billy had pinned up beside 
him. He took it, and crept over to the fire, piled 
on fresh fuel, and read the message by the fire- 
213 


AN ORDEAL FOR JACK 


213 


light. Then he remembered and understood. 
He was too tired to walk, and Billy had brought 
him back here and now had gone for Martin. He 
looked at his watch. It was six o’clock. He did 
not know what time it was when Billy started; 
but he knew how many long miles he would have 
to walk, and in the dark he might easily lose his 
way. Jack groaned. It might be hours yet before 
he could get back with Martin ; and if he should 
wander from the trail — Jack shuddered. That 
was a thought that he had to put out of his 
mind. He piled more wood on the fire and crept 
back to the bunk. The thermos bottle was there, 
and he drank some water and put some on his 
head, which was hot in spite of the shivers that 
ran over him. After a while he dozed again. 
But suddenly he started up wide awake, think- 
ing that some one was in the room. He could 
see no one, yet he felt that some living creature 
was there. He was no longer sleepy — his brain 
was clear and his senses acute. His eyes 
searched the room, which was almost dark now. 
He saw no one — nothing — but there was a sound, 

somewhere — a rustling, scratching sound It 

ceased abruptly as he said aloud, ‘'A squirrel 
maybe, or a coon.^’ 

He lay down again, and after a little the 
rustling began once more, and something shook 
the bunk. In the darkness Jack’s eyes widened. 
He realised where he was now — in the woods 
up on the mountain. There were wild creatures 
there, he knew, and some of them were danger- 


214 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


ous. Jack was no coward, but to be shut up alone 
in that little place in the dark with a lynx or a 

wildcat, would be Jack’s heart beat heavily. 

If only Billy would come, or Martin ! If he 
only knew what the creature was — where it was ! 
If he could reach one of those heavy sticks of 
wood ! The cold sweat started out on his fore- 
head, and his hands were shaking. The creature 
— whatever it was — must be under the bunk. 
Perhaps it had crawled through some hole in the 
wall or burrowed under it. Jack sat utterly still 
and waited, his wide eyes ever searching through 
the darkness, for there was now only a glimmer 
of light from the fire. Then suddenly he saw 
two fiery sparks close beside the bunk. Instinc- 
tively he yelled, and the sparks vanished and all 
was still. But he knew now that the creature 
was there under the bunk, and he dared not get 

out. He could only wait in silence. Oh, if Billy 
would only come ! The minutes seemed hours 
— ages! Again he heard that soft stealthy 
rustling beneath him, and once more the fiery 
eyes were glaring at him. The fire flared up for 
a moment and showed him the indistinct outline 
of a dark form. Again he shouted, and once 
more the thing vanished silently. But Jack was 
getting exhausted — his head was swimming, and 
he felt that he could not endure the strain much 
longer. 

‘'If I only had a gun,” he thought despair- 
ingly; and then his thoughts flew to his mother. 


AN ORDEAL FOR JACK 215 

and even in that hour, he was thankful that she 
could not know where he was. 

The momentary flare of the fire was over, 
leaving the room darker than before. Jack dared 
not get up to replenish it lest the creature under 
the bunk spring upon him, but he- knew that 
the danger would be greater if the fire went out. 
Could he get up — could he ? “ I’ve got to ! ” he 
told himself. “ I just must! The room was 
quite dark now. “ I’ll count ten and then I’ll get 
out.” He counted ten slowly — very slowly. 
Then cautiously, he drew up his feet and made a 
dash for the fireplace. As he did so there was 
a snarling cry, and something furry flashed past 
him and crouched in the further corner of the 
room. Jack snatched up a big stick, but in the 
darkness he could see nothing. It required nerve 
to turn his back on that snarling wild thing 
and throw chips on the embers, but he did it — 
swiftly — and then he whirled about, the big stick 
in his hand. As the fire brightened, it revealed a 
great cat crouched in the corner, its wicked-look- 
ing teeth bared, its tail lashing, its eyes gleaming 
like live coals as it spit and snarled at him. 

But the fire was blazing up brightly now and 
the wildcat did not like it. Again and again it 
crouched for a spring at the slender boy, but 
he kept close to the fire, and now he had snatched 
a blazing brand from it, and the wildcat dared 
not face that. Suddenly it flashed across the 
room and under the bunk again. It had heard 
the sound that Jack’s strained ears now caught — 


216 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


the sound of voices shouting his name. With a 
glad cry, he flung open the door and dashed out 
into the storm, the blazing stick still in his hand. 

A great shout went up at sight of him, but it 
was Billy who reached him first — Billy who took 
the blazing stick from him, and would have led 
him back into the cabin ; but Jack found his voice 
then, and told what was there. The three men 
w^ent in, and with lighted brands drove the crea- 
ture out, for they had no weapons with them. 
Evidently the great cat had its lair under the 
bunk, getting in through an opening under the 
wall. Probably it was there when the boys came 
to the cabin, but remained hidden, not daring to 
venture out until the place was dark and still. 

“ And to think I left you here with — that” 
Billy cried, when they were all in the cabin again. 
His face whitened as he thought of it. But pres- 
ently he said, wonderingly, “ Anyhow, Jack, you 
look lots better than you did when I left you. 
I thought you were awfully sick.’’ 

Jack laughed a little. I sure did feel so,” 
he answered, “ but I reckon that beast scared it 
out of me — whatever it w^as. I feel all right now 
— only rather shaky.” 

“ That’s something new — the wildcat cure,” 
laughed Martin, ‘‘ but I guess I wouldn’t exactly 
recommend you to try it again.” 

And I guess I don’t want to,” Jack answered 
with a nervous shiver. 

Martin handed Billy his overcoat, ordering him 
to put it on. Then he made Jack take some hot 


AN ORDEAL FOR JACK 


217 


strong soup out of a thermos bottle that his wife 
had filled, and spreading in the bunk one of the 
blankets he had brought, he made the boy lie 
down there, paying no attention to his protests 
that he was “ all right now.” 

After that he made coffee and insisted that 
every one should drink some of it “ piping hot ” 
and eat some of Mrs. Martin’s lunch before 
starting out again. 

When they at last set forth. Jack, wrapped in 
one blanket and lying in another, the corners of 
which were held by the four others, across their 
shoulders, as if it were a hammock, was carried 
down the trail to the road where the wagon was 
waiting. 

Jack giggled and fretted, declaring that he 
could walk all right, and he wouldn’t be carried 
like a pappoose, but Martin paid not the slightest 
heed to his protests, so at last he was silent, and 
he was asleep when they put him into the wagon. 

Jack always maintained that it was the wildcat, 
and not the doctor’s medicine, that cured him. 
At any rate, he gained steadily after this ad- 
venture, and he and Billy enjoyed to the full the 
winter sports — skating, sleighing, and skiing — 
to say nothing of snowball battles with the Jack- 
son boys and ice carnivals at neighbouring lakes. 

The New England spring was a delight to 
Billy, and the boys literally lived out-of-doors, 
on foot or in the saddle. Billy was so occupied 
in watching Jack’s improvement that he never 
thought about himself until one day when he 


218 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


discovered that his clothes were too small for 
him. Jack looked him over then with slow 
surprise. 

“ Well — ^you’ve sure been doing a heap of 
growing, Billy Burns. They won’t know you 
when you get back to Washington. Say, Billy, 
we’ll run down to Boston next week and get 
some big-enough clothes. I need some new 
ones, too,” he said. 

It would take too long to tell of that spring 
and summer — of the mountain-climbing the boys 
did — of the hikes with the Jackson Scouts, of 
the coming of Jimmy Hunter and another Ger- 
mantown Scout to Jimmy’s aunt’s and the way 
they two (ably assisted by Jack and Billy!) 
‘‘ trained ” the Jackson Scouts, and helped them 
build their troop-houses — one far up on a moun- 
tain. 

And there was the. glorious week that Mr. 
Harding spent with the boys on his way back 
from Alaska, after he had won his suit against 
the land company. Billy learned then what it 
meant to a boy to have the right kind of a 
father.” He considered Mr. Harding exactly the 
right kind. 

And when, in September, Mrs. Harding and 
Elsie came home, and Mr. Harding and Wilson 
went with them to Jackson — then Jack felt that 
he had nothing in the world to wish for, since 
his mother was well again and they all were 
together. They would not let Billy go back to 
Washington until they all went; and when that 


AN ORDEAL FOR JACK 


219 


time came, Mr. Harding took matters into his 
own hands — matters concerning Billy, that is. 
He would listen to no protests. Billy’s education 
was his concern just as much as Jack’s, he de- 
clared, and there was to be no night work. If 
Billy wanted to be a doctor — Jack had found 
that out — he should have every opportunity to 
prepare himself for that life-work. 

The first evening after their return. Jack and 
Billy slipped away to see the Scout Master; and 
later, Billy went down to Barney’s. He stared 
in amazement at Barney. 

Why — how big you are ! ” he exclaimed, as 
their hands met in a firm grip. 

“ You’ve been doing some growing yourself in 
this year,” Barney laughed. You look as if 
New England agreed with you.” 

It did,” returned Billy, and then they settled 
down for a long talk. When Billy inquired about 
Tom and Jim, Barney answered: 

“ They’re climbin’ up — slip back sometimes, of 
course, but we keep an eye on ’em. Scout Mas- 
ter found ’em work, an’ Mr. Hart fitted ’em 
out with good clothes. They’re doin’ fine. An’ 
Duff — Billy, I’d never have believed Duff would 
brace up the way he has. Lookin’ after Jim an’ 
Tom has been the makin’ of him — but it was 
you begun it. An’ how I nagged you to let him 
go. I thought you was just wastin’ time on him 
a year ago, Billy.” 

Billy nodded, and was silent a moment be- 
fore he asked, Are Tom and Jim in the troop? ” 


220 BILLY BURNS OF TROOP 5 


“ Not in Troop 5. There’s a new troop, just 
organised — South End fellers. They’re in that, 
and, Billy — I’m the assistant Scout Master.” 

^‘Good!’^ Billy shouted. “You’ll make a 
dandy one. But — but I’ll miss you, Barney — 
I’ll miss you a lot.” 

“ I know, and I’ll miss the old troop — and you, 
Billy; but I’m gettin’ too big to think only of 
what I like. I got to help the other fellers a bit,” 
Barney ended gravely. 

As Billy rose to go, he glanced at the book- 
shelf. It held now a row of “ real ” books. Un- 
der the shelf was a card on which had been care- 
fully lettered these words : 

“ ' I am not bound to win in what I attempt,’ 
said Lincoln, ‘ but I am bound to be a man, I 
am bound to be true to the best I know. Any 
departure from this is contemptible cowardice.’ ” 

“ That’s what I’m tryin’ to live up to,” said 
Barney quietly. 


PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


“The Bishop’s Shadow” Books 

By L T. THURSTON 

Each intfstratedt MmOf Cloth - net $^*00 

Billy Burns of Troop 5 

Here is a Boy Scout’s story which has to do with 
the average boy of the city. Like “ The Bishop’s 
Shadow ” and “ The Scout Master of Troop 5,” it is 
fresh, breezy, clear-cut and catchy — a fine, strong, 
earnest, lucid book, written with the idea of helping 
boys to do their parts in the world’s work. The 
author’s wonderful insight into the boy nature and 
knowledge of his ways of work and recreation is 
here apparent. 

The Scout Master of Troop 5 

« The daily life of the city boys from whom the 
scouts are recruited is related, and the succession of 
experiences afterward coming delightfully to them — 
country hikes, camp life, exploring expeditions, and 
the finding of real hidden treasure.” — N, K Sun» 

The Big Brother of Sabin Street 

Containing the story of Theodore Bryan 
(The Bishop’s Shadow) 

« This volume is the sequel to the Story of Theo- 
dore Bryan, ‘ The Bishop’s Shadow,’ which came 
into prominence as a classic among boys’ books and 
was written to supply the urgent demand for a story 
continuing the account of Theodore’s work among 
the boys.” — Western Recorder. 

The Bishop's Shadow 

“ A captivating story of dear Phillips Brooks and 
a little street gamin of Boston. The book sets forth 
the almost matchless character of the Christlike 
bishop in most loving and lovely lines.” 

— The Interior, 


BOOKS FOR BOYS 


By EDWIN C. BURRITT 

Boy Scout Crusoes 

A Tale of the South Seas. Illustrated by Walter 
Louderback. i2mo, cloth - - - - net ^1.25 

This is a story for which every boy will cherish memories 
for years after reading. No more interesting things ever 
happened in a book than these experiences of the Coyote 
Patrol, who went in the Flying Fish on a long cruise in the 
Pacific. 


By DILLON WALLACE 

The Gaunt Gray Wolf 

Illustrated, i2mo, cloth net $ 1 . 2 ^ 

“ Pictures with wonderful vividness the fearful cold, isola- 
tion of the people who venture into the wild for fur or ani- 
mals, the strange superstitions of Indians and Eskimos, and 
yet the touch of nature that makes these far-away people akin 
to all the rest of the world ." — Indianapolis News. 

‘‘Ungava Bob'’ 

A Tale of the Fur Trappers. Illustrated, i2mo^ 
cloth net ;S;i.25 

" A rarely admirable book for boys — one of the most en- 
gaging of the sort I have ever read. It is an honest story, 
but as appealing to the hearts and imaginations of boys as 
the unconscientious stories commonly ofi'ered. It will not be 
approached by any tale of adventure published for boys this 
season ." — Norman Duncan. 


By RALPH CONNOR 

Glengarry School Days 

Early Days in the Indian Lands. Illustrated^ 
i2mo, cloth net 1. 00 

"When an author of Ralph Connor’s undoubted genius is 
overtaken in that fashion things happen — and that is just 
what one finds in ‘ Glengarry School Days ' — things are hap- 
pening all the time ." — Brooklyn Eagle. 
















> f 




i J > » * ^ • 


\ - I, 

«• 

< 

; 


I i 


V . /■/ . r ! ■'• ■:'/.• : "y ■■ ,;. v ■ ■ ' 














Vd- 


, *» 


■» Vi 

-VITi* nl< i'’?,'vVv "^7^-''' V 

• ^ i* I V. 

BB W H ‘ •'■ ■"::■% 


IV * ■ 'I 






f , 


^ ' 


> f 




rV/ 




• “'*■ 't>'X ^ ' . ■''i, ’■ ■■’ti.*' 


i', ' f ''t>'\ 


1 M M 


•I’ . 


4 \ 


I* 




• . * • . , -^ 




■••lAV.iy 












»'* . ►! 


;^v 


■i'^' 


to 


IT 



S ':'.''"-’ ■'. ‘ -y’- 

. v-A,. v, :' ' 




,•> V 


> ■*. 


fk-<i 






. .. '7J]i)i: : ' -v -A*aMR\j 


V. 


A,* 


'V* 


^ *'. 0 “ > 

■u-^ . *■ - 

..H, 





tJri’'.,V 

4v 






'I 'T VI* y, 

V ' . '.M-* ^M’Mi,- 

•►*■ ■, 4 •#1# rvH 
r . .' i '■ . 




^ -vafi- • ‘• 

■>vr . 9VU^« 


J 


Kti ^v;'. > 


'ji- 




;i5$v rf: '» : fiM*>;p!Si^'aipi« 

A v^' ‘ ^ A*' 


^rf 


/ i 


H^Ii 


V; 




^ '.'V, 

t&A' V*> 

’ \*fi 


• < 


^... ...J V. 

•'Z * ' /• > '.vrv • . .A ■• ' 

T-., Vv"‘L''^' 

'• V', fe;; y.' 

■i'»i 


- .M> 


-\ 


>. 


sPs»«fc'": ■ % . ,. i-ti:>9jti-:^.-;i iEP:e;cMfi 

^,f.:^.-^^^" A* t '"'■' r,\..'' i ... .,.,..A;:: y-'' 



,, .f 


j'. 


‘i’. 




Ml '' • ' ‘ ’ iK' ' - ‘ v ■'. 

’4m ■*‘*‘“’ '. ' i ^ I \'.JL 

A #i.i'."' • / ■ ' >: 


, 7 . 


\‘:A 


V-V' •••;■ • i’ '•* 

. 'S' 'tk£ : ' 

■L?lb«v 


V l 


'■* V ^j!*'‘ L ' 

M 


\ ;>■’ 











'U'/'r -liV" 'i *'■' . 



in* 


*y ' v-v, 

• -c-l^ 


's ‘•^J 

I * 

m 


$ ' !'*■ 


•/.’ -. 










